Diamonds discovered at SMR Aggregates

APRIL FOOLS —

LAKEWOOD RANCH — SMR officials say it’s better than striking gold.

An employee at SMR Aggregates last week discovered natural diamonds at the East County-based mining operation.

“I just couldn’t believe it,” said miner Aaron Snyder. “We were down there working on shell, and then something shiny caught my eye.”

Upon further investigation, SMR Aggregates management confirmed the material as natural diamond.
SMR Aggregates President Gene Crenshaw said all work at the mines has been halted as he and other mine officials decide how to proceed with the diamonds. The operation likely will implement pipe mining, a process that uses volcanic pipes to extract the ore. Initial tests of the extracted material will determine whether the company will make major changes to its operation, Crenshaw said.

The discovery makes Lakewood Ranch just the fourth location in the United States known to have diamonds. The gemstones also have been found in Arkansas, Colorado and Montana. Furthermore, the discovery makes Lakewood Ranch the only location in the world in which natural and lab-created diamonds can be found. Lakewood Ranch-based Gemesis has been producing colored gems in its lab since it opened in 2002. Most recently, it has produced flawless, colorless stones, as well.