A rare jade mine has been discovered in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and experts are surprised by its huge reserve and high quality of the precious stone.

The jade ore, found in Dashetai in Urad Front Banner, Inner Mongolia, has an exposed part of nearly 30 million cubic meters, according to the local government.

The mine, discovered at an altitude of 1,815 meters, came into being about 1.8 billion to 2.4 billion years ago, according to geological and jewel experts.

The jade, which has been officially named "Shetai jade', is of high quality in terms of rigidity and the size of the pieces, experts said.

The Urad Front Banner government is discussing how to develop the jade mine and is planning to build a 66-hectare processing center.

(Xinhua News Agency November 18, 2007)