Flashing in South Africa quickly faded: “diggers” confused diamonds with quartz, which actually has no cost, writes ABC News.
Diamond fever began on June 12, when the crowds of people began to flow to the hillside in the province of Quadzulu-Natal in South Africa. It happened after the local shepherd spoke about the transparent crystals found in this area. When about 3 thousand treasure hunters arrived there, the local authorities showed interest in what was happening and sent there to geologists and experts on mining, so that they collected samples for research.
As the results showed, the alleged precious stones were conventional quartz crystals, which are often found in this area. Despite the fact that such a find also has a certain value, its cost will be much lower compared with real diamonds. This news destroyed all the hopes of excavokers who hoped at least somehow improve their financial position.
The only plus of this situation is that the diamond fever demonstrated the socio-economic problems of the region. Local officials promised to respond to problems raised by the community during their visit, including difficulty access to water and poor road quality. The government also called on people as soon as possible to leave this area, referring to the risks associated with the coronavirus pandemic, and the deterioration of the environment.