Stunned¹ miners have unearthed² the world's most valuable piece of jade³ - an 18ft monster worth 140 million pounds.

日前，一队目瞪口呆的矿工挖掘出了世界上最具价值的玉石--其长宽约为18英尺（约为5.49米），价值1.4亿英镑。

Workers were excavating⁴ rare gems⁶ at a remote mine in Kachin State, Burma, when they stumbled across the huge jadeite rock.

工人们是在缅甸克钦邦一个偏远的矿场挖掘稀有宝石时无意中发现了这块巨大的玉原石。

The remarkable⁷ stone weighs a staggering 175 tonnes, measures 9ft high, 18ft long and 18ft wide.

这块引人注目的石头有惊人的有175吨重，经测量有9英尺（约为2.7米）高，长和宽均为18英尺。

Pictures from the scene of the recovery show local politician U Tint⁸ Soe standing⁹ next to the giant gem⁵ as it towers above him.

从采矿场拍摄的照片可以看到，当地政客吴定索站在这块巨型玉原石旁边，巨石显得庞大无比。

The rock - which will appear its distinctive¹⁰ green once cleaned - is second only in size to the a carved statue at the Jade Buddha¹¹ Palace in China which weighs 260 tonnes.

玉石经冲洗后会露出它本身独有的绿色——它的体积仅次于中国玉佛宫里一尊重260吨的巨型玉雕。

Miner Sao Min, 44, said: 'We thought we had won the lottery¹². But this belongs to the country. It is in honour of our leaders.'

44岁的矿工绍敏说，“发现这块巨型玉原石时感觉像是中了彩票，不过它属于我们的国家。这是我们领导人的荣誉。”

U Tint Soe said: 'The jade is as big as two small houses that are 9ft square. 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.'

吴定索表示：“玉原石有9立方英尺大，有两间小房子那么大，我认为它是赐给我们的国家、政府和人民的一份礼物，是一个吉兆。”

Burma - or Myanmar - is the world's largest producer of jadeite - and the 50 billion dollar a year industry represents half of the country's GDP.

缅甸是世界上最大的翡翠出产国，翡翠产业的年产值达到500亿美元（约合3364亿元人民币），贡献了该国约50%的国内生产总值（GDP）。

The wholesale¹³ price of Jadite - most valuable form of the gem - from mines is around 820 pound per kg - but prices can reach is much as 1,150 pound.

而矿场的翡翠批发价格约为每公斤820英镑（约合6724元人民币），有时可高达1150英镑（约合9430元人民币）。

The boulder¹⁴ will be sent to China where it will be carved up into expensive jewellery and sculptures.

接下来，这块玉原石将会送往中国开凿、琢磨成高价玉器首饰和雕像。