Deposit

Montepuez Ruby Mining Area

Montepuez is a major current ruby-producing area with primary and secondary deposits; the map point is deliberately regional.

Evidence statusPublished & sourcedLast reviewed August 15, 2026
OverviewGeologyGem relationshipsProduction & historyMap & precisionSources

Evidence-backed overview

The place, clearly defined

A broad locality page for ruby deposits and mining operations around Montepuez, Mozambique.

A major modern ruby source that changed the global ruby trade after the 2009 discovery.

Alternate & historical names
Montepuez ruby deposits alternateMRM area alternate

Geological context

How the occurrence is understood

GIA field research describes amphibole-related primary ruby and secondary deposits formed by weathering, transport, and concentration in ancient drainage systems.

Deposit classification

Colluvial or eluvial secondary

Weathered ruby was concentrated in secondary eluvial, colluvial, and alluvial settings. [1]

Deposit classification

Amphibole-related primary

Primary ruby is associated with amphibole-rich rocks. [1]

Bidirectional relationships

Documented gemstones

Occurrence and production are separate claims. A production label is date-bounded and does not guarantee quality, origin determination, or market value.

Current production

Ruby

Recent, date-bounded evidence documents active production. This status requires periodic review.

Current production verified

Current production is supported by a dated July 2026 operator report and contextualized by GIA field research.

Evidence[1][4][2]

Time-aware evidence

Production & history

Ruby was discovered in the area in 2009. Large-scale operations began in 2012, and current production is supported by a July 2026 operator update.

Large-scale production era

Current production verified

Large-scale operations began in 2012. A July 2026 operator update supports current activity through June 2026. [4]

  1. Ruby discovery becomes widely known

    The Montepuez discovery brought northern Mozambique to global attention as a ruby source. [1]

  2. Large-scale mining begins

    GIA reporting documents the beginning of large-scale operations in the Montepuez area. [2]

Spatial context

Map & coordinate precision

Approximate marker uses the GeoNames position for Montepuez town. It does not reveal a mine entrance, pit, concession boundary, or deposit coordinate.

Loading the local vector map…
Precision class
Approximate regional position
Public coordinates
Approximately -13.13, 39.00
What this means
Marker represents a broad regional center, not a mine or deposit boundary.

Evidence ledger

Sources & verification

Sources are deduplicated across the geographic record. Current-production claims receive explicit review dates; a map point never substitutes for geological or production evidence.

  1. [1]
    Tao Hsu, Andrew Lucas, and Vincent Pardieu. Mozambique: A Ruby Discovery for the 21st Century.

    Gems & Gemology · 2015

    View authoritative source
  2. [2]
    Wim Vertriest, Sudarat Saeseaw, and Kevin Schumacher. Update from Mozambique’s Ruby Mines.

    Gems & Gemology · 2022

    View authoritative source
  3. [3]
    GeoNames contributors. GeoNames: Montepuez, Mozambique.

    GeoNames · 2026

    View authoritative source
  4. [4]
    Gemfields Group Limited. Operational update to 30 June 2026.

    Gemfields Group Limited · 2026

    View authoritative source