Experts, who analysed stones that attracted scores of people at KwaHlathi near Ladysmith, say they found out the stones were actually quartz crystals, a report says.
Hundreds of people flocked to the area last week digging the stones they believed to be diamonds.
“The tests conducted conclusively reveal that the stones discovered in the area are not diamonds as some had hoped.
“What was discovered are quarts crystals commonly associated with the Karoo supergroup,” News24 quoted KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development MEC Ravi Pillay as saying.
He said the value of the crystals was yet to be established.
Videos posted on social media last week showed people digging the ground in search for diamonds.
Residents said they were trying to dig as much as they could before the government “arrives and takes over the site”, The Witness reported.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala in a statement, urged residents at the time to cease the illegal operations and allow the government team to inspect the site.
A delegation made up of geo-scientists and government officials travelled to the village to see whether the claims were true.
PICTURE: Twitter
