STUNNED miners have unearthed the world’s most valuable piece of jade — an 18-foot (5.5-meter) monster worth US$174 million.

    Workers were excavating rare gems at a remote mine in Kachin State, Myanmar, when they stumbled across the huge jadeite rock.

    The remarkable stone weighs a staggering 175 tons, measures 9 feet high, 18 feet long and 18 feet wide.

    Pictures from the scene of the recovery show local politician U Tint Soe standing next to the giant gem as it towers above him.

    The rock — which will appear its distinctive green once cleaned — is second only in size to the carved statue at the Jade Buddha Palace in China that weighs 260 tons.

    Miner Sao Min, 44, said, “We thought we had won the lottery. But this belongs to the country. It is in honor of our leaders.”

    U Tint Soe said, “The jade is as big as two small houses.

    “I assume that it is a present for the fate for our citizens, the government and our party as it was discovered in the time of our government. It’s a very good sign for us.”

    Myanmar is the world’s largest producer of jadeite — and the US$50 billion a year industry represents half of the country’s GDP.

    The wholesale price of jadite — most valuable form of the gem — from mines is around £820 (US$1,003) per kg — but prices can reach as much as £1,150.

    It gives the rock found Thursday an estimated value of US$174.6 million — the highest for any single piece of raw Jade.

    And the price per kg could be up to 20 times higher once it has been polished and shaped — giving it an astronomical potential price tag in the billions.

    The boulder will be sent to China where it will be carved up into expensive jewelry and sculptures.

    Chinese jade expert Frank Xiao, a dealer in Shenzhen, said, “This is a beautiful find. There are many negotiations but it’s likely to be coming to China.

    “It will make many beautiful necklaces and bracelets in the future. And plenty of statues for homes in China.”

    An 18-ton nephrite jade boulder was found in Canada in 2013 with a value of around £1.6 million.

    The price of jade has rocketed since then and jadeite — the form most common in Burma — is worth significantly more.

    (SD-Agencies)