JOHANNESBURG - Dozens of people have gathered in Springs on the East Rand, digging for what they believe could be gold.
But mining expert David van Wyk has warned that the excitement may be misplaced.
He says gold is not usually found on agricultural land, despite the area’s proximity to old mine dumps and abandoned mines.
"Everyone is very excited but I doubt that there is actually gold on that land. The swell colour is a dark brown. Normally gold occurs in tailings runoff, which is usually a yellow colour," he said.
Van Wyk also raised safety concerns, warning that the bucket-and-spade digging taking place in the area could pose risks, particularly to children who may get injured.
Residents began flocking to the site after claims that someone had found seven grams of gold, sparking what appears to be a small-scale gold rush.
Men and women armed with spades and buckets have been digging in hopes of striking it rich.
READ | IN PICS |Armed with spades and buckets, residents hunt for gold in springs
One woman said she arrived at the site on Wednesday after hearing others were already digging. She claimed she found gold, which she later sold to buy food for her children.
Some residents alleged that buckets of soil are being taken to a nearby house where the gold is extracted.
However, van Wyk described a far more complex and potentially hazardous process.
He said soil is typically washed over a carpet containing mercury, which binds to gold particles.
The mercury is then scraped off and burned with a blowtorch to separate the gold.
Even so, he remains sceptical that any meaningful quantities of gold will be found and fears residents may have been misled.
Police are monitoring the area as crowds continue to dig.