Sam Cooley's video: Myanmar: Treasures from a land time forgot

Some of the world's most valuable coloured stones--such as gems affixed to the crowns of Monarchs and Emperors in Europe and Asia--are from one particular region of the globe: the country now known as Myanmar. Perhaps it's no surprise, due to the value and unique geological conditions of the area, that gemstones from Myanmar have become a topic of worldwide fascination for jewellers, gemologists, and collectors for centuries. "Myanmar: Treasures from a land time forgot" is a presentation which aims to bring context to Myanmar gemstones through history, in-person observations, and investigation interpreted by this reporter. This presentation was hosted at the Canadian Gemmological Association in March 2019 in Toronto. Topics discussed range from the history of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma; the history of the mines of Mogok through until the present day, the emerging and revolutionary field of Cretaceous amber research and imaging in paleontology; rare jadeite mines in Hpakant, Kachin State, Maw Sit Sit, and more. This presentation, available in 4k resolution (2160p) serves to educate the public about a number of incorrect perceptions about Myanmar often propagated worldwide in a bid to impede competition and to further shroud the nation in obscurity, darkness, and misunderstanding for the English-speaking world. For more stories, investigations and analysis, please visit goodcolour.ca Special thanks to Sean McKay for filming this presentation.