Huge jade stone found in Myanmar

The boulder was discovered in a mine in the state of Kachin, in the north of the country.

Miners in Myanmar have unearthed a huge jade stone weighing 175 tonnes, which might be worth US$170 million. The near-translucent green stone measures 4.3 metres (14 feet) high, and 5.8 metres (19 feet) long.

It's estimated that around 70 percent of the world's finest jade comes from Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), with the industry making up around half of the country's gross domestic product. As with most of the jade discovered in the country, the stone will probably be sent across the border to China to be carved into jewellery and sculptures. The trade is estimated at US$31 billion and has been described as the 'biggest natural resource heist in modern history'. The recently elected government announced reforms in August to end corruption, abuse, and environmental wrongdoing in the jade industry.

In response to a series of deadly landslides, the government has already suspended operations at more than 2,000 jade mines in Kachin state.

Mponeng - World's deepest Gold Mine

Mponeng is a gold mine in South Africa's North West Province, about 65 km southwest of Johannesburg, owned by AngloGold Ashanti. It is also currently the world's deepest mine. It extends over 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) below the surface, and is considered to be one of the most substantial gold mines in the world. Mponeng means 'look at me' in the local Sotho language. Formerly the Western Deep Levels South Shaft, or Shaft No 1, Mponeng is the most recently sunk of the three former Western Deep Levels mines. The global record was broken in 2009 after digging 3,777m. With the current sink, the mine would go down to 4,100m. Plans could take the Mponeng Mine to 4,500m below the surface.

The Mponeng Mine is also one of the world's richest with grades at over 8 g/t. Production is primarily sourced from the Ventersdorp Contact Reef, a seam of ore that averages only 30 inches wide. Work is progressing to extract the ore from the Carbon Leader Reef below it.

In an effect known as the geothermal gradient, the temperature of the earth increases with depth. Rock temperature reaches 140 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity 95 percent. 6,000 tons of ice a day keeps Mponeng's deepest levels at 83 degrees. Ice is made in a surface plant, then mixed with salt to create a slush that is pumped to underground reservoirs. There, giant fans pass air over the coolant and push the chilled air further down into the mining tunnels.

Every day the 4000 miners at the Mponeng Mine detonate 5,000 pounds of explosives. Every day they take away 6,400 tons of rock. The laws of compressive force dictate that the rock will try to close the spaces left by mining.

Six hundred times a month a "seismic event" will shudder through the Mponeng mine. Sometimes the quakes cause rockbursts, when rock explodes into a mining cavity and mows men down with a deadly spray of jagged rock. Sometimes a tremor causes a "fall of ground"—the term for a collapse. Some of the rockbursts had been so powerful that other countries, detecting the seismic signature, had suspected South Africa of testing a nuclear bomb.

2017 Nissan Acura NSX Type R

The 2017 Acura NSX Type R is a mid-engine hybrid sporting a twin-turbocharged 75-degree DOHC V6 engine with a 9-speed dual clutch transmission and three-electric motor Sport Hybrid system, surrounded by an ultra-rigid and lightweight multi-material body. The V6 employs a race inspired compact valve train and dry sump lubrication system which helps lower the center of gravity.

With a total of 573 hp and 476 lb-ft of torque, the second-generation NSX will get to 60 mph in about 3.0 seconds and will roll on to a top speed of 191 mph. Due to its hybrid, multi-motor setup, the NSX will tip the scales at a hefty 3,803 pounds.

Pricing is officially $ 156,000 before any of the extras, $ 205,000 fully loaded.

Top 10 of the 2016 Detroit Auto Show

2016 Ford GT. The 600-plus horsepower 3.5-litre twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 engine contributes to the GT's breathtaking styling. Sophisticated technology make the GT the unequivocal hero of this show.

Chevrolet Bolt Concept. Chevy's four-door hatchback promises a 200-mile driving range at a price of $30,000.

Buick Avenir Concept. As a concept, the Avenir is short on specifics, though Buick envisions the car being propelled by GM's next-generation direct-injected V6 engine, nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive system.

2016 Acura NSX. Acura's all-wheel drive mid-engine supercar finally reached fruition with the arrival of the production NSX. The 550-horsepower hybrid sports car matches two electric motors with a gasoline V6 engine.

Hyundai Santa Cruz Concept. The Santa Cruz concept is powered by a 2-litre turbodiesel four-cylinder engine rated at 190hp and 300lb-ft of torque.

2016 Lexus GS F. Featuring a 467-horsepower 5-litre V8 engine mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox the engine redlines at 7,300rpm.

Honda FCV Concept. The car will travel 300 miles on a tank of gaseous hydrogen, and can completely refill from empty in just three minutes using the latest 70 megapascal pressure pumps.

2016 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider. A 1.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine is good for 237 horsepower, with a twin-clutch transmission delivering rear-wheel drive power.

2016 Audi Q7. A supercharged 333-hp 3.0-liter V-6 provides power to an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive.

Infiniti Q60 Concept. A twin-turbocharged 3-litre gasoline V6 engine and seven-speed automatic transmission deliver the boom.