Freetown, October 31, 2024 — The Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources, in conjunction with the National Minerals Agency (NMA), has clarified the nature of a stone recently discovered in Kerry Town, initially thought to be a diamond.
On October 28, 2024, officers from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) brought a transparent, white stone for analysis to the NMA.
According to the CID, the stone was presented by Detective Police Constable Ngaujah, accompanied by Yusuf Conteh and Mohamed Kamara, who claimed to have found it.
“The stone appeared smooth and irregularly shaped, raising curiosity among the finders and police,” NMA shared. However, after careful examination with a Presidium Duotester, a device specifically designed to measure thermal conductivity to distinguish diamonds from other stones, the results were conclusive. “We confirmed it is not a diamond,” the Ministry stated.
The claimants, Yusuf Conteh and Mohamed Kamara, were present during the test, along with Detective Ngaujah, observing the procedure and the results. Following the assessment, the stone was returned to the police and the finders, who departed the NMA premises together.
The Ministry urged the public to exercise caution and seek information only from verified sources regarding potential mineral finds.
“We encourage the public to rely on official channels for information and verification,” the NMA stated.
For further inquiries, the public is directed to contact the National Minerals Agency at their New England Ville office, Freetown, or through official communication channels.
