The glittering stones mistaken for diamonds in Wanching village of Mon district Nagaland has short lived as Geologist, hand picked and appointed by Nagaland government confirmed that the crystal-like stone were ‘quartz’ and not diamonds as per preliminary findings.
The Director of Geology and Mining, Nagaland, S Manen earlier week on Thursday appointed four geologists – David Lhoupeyi, Abenthung Lotha, Longrikaba and Kenyelo Rengma to investigate and submit a report.
The wild diamond rush among Wanching villagers mass digging which went viral on several social media posts caught the attention of northeast and national news outlets, reminding of the California gold rush in 1800s which attracted thousands of Americans, Europeans and people from other parts of the world.
There were also rumours that the crystal stones were sold to interested buyers in Assam for hefty prices by the local villagers in Mon district.
According to one news report from Inside Northeast, Mon District Magistrate Thavaseelan K has been quoted as saying that the stones were sold by villagers to people in Assam for lakhs of rupees. “We don’t have any specific data, but we have been told that many people in Assam purchased the diamonds after the diamond rush in Wanching.”
Quartz or silicon dioxide (SiO2) is found in different colours such as pink, blue, yellow, orange, gray or colorless. It is said to be present in many different parts of the world. Some suggests that Quartz could sell up to 8-10 US dollars per pound in the market.