Miners unearth four-foot, 42-stone emerald which is ‘worth up to £235 million’

Miners unearthed a 4.3-foot emerald which weighs more than 600 pounds – 42 stone – and which could be worth up to £235 million, it has been claimed.

Miners found the rock 20 days ago in Brazil’s northeastern state of Bahia.

The workers from Bahia Mineral Cooperative painstakingly chipped the vast emerald out of the rock – and it has already been sold.

Paulo Santana of Brazil’s National Mineral Production Department said that the rock had already been sold to a mine owner in the region.

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Santana wouldn’t disclose how much money changed hands – or the estimated value of the rock.

But the sheer size means it could be cut and polished to 200,000 carats of emeralds – and worth up to £235 million, the Daily Mail claimed.

The buyer’s lawyer, Marcio Jandir, said by telephone his client wants to exhibit the emerald in museums and libraries.

Jandir did not reveal the buyer’s name.

Santana said it was the second large emerald found in the region.

The first one was 44 pounds heavier and was valued at more than $300 million when it was unearthed in 2001.