by Murfreesboro, Arkansas – A family visiting the renowned Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas made an exciting discovery when they unearthed a nearly 3-carat brown diamond on the park’s north side. The remarkable find was confirmed by park officials and adds to the park’s impressive record of diamond discoveries.
The adventure began as Raynae Madison and her family traveled from Oklahoma to Arkansas to celebrate her nephew’s birthday. Seizing the opportunity to experience the famous diamond hunting grounds, they purchased shovels and screens and set up near the Prospector Trailhead. After digging through several buckets of soil in the park’s 37.5-acre diamond search area, Madison spotted an unusual, striking stone.
A Surprising and Precious Find
“At first I thought it looked really neat, but I wasn’t sure what it was,” Madison shared. “I honestly thought it was too big to be a diamond.” Their curiosity led them to the Diamond Discovery Center, where staff assessed the stone and confirmed it was a chocolate brown diamond, distinguished by its unique inclusions.
Emma O’Neal, park interpreter, explained the rarity of such stones:
“Brown diamonds from the Crater occur due to a process called plastic deformation, which creates structural defects during a diamond’s formation or movement in magma. These defects reflect red and green light, combining to make the diamond appear brown.”
Honoring her nephew, Madison named the gem the William Diamond. The diamond weighs in at 2.79 carats and ranks as the third-largest diamond registered at the park in 2023 so far. It surpasses a 2.30-carat diamond found just a month earlier, while the year’s largest was the 3.81-carat Duke Diamond discovered in May.
Crater of Diamonds State Park: A Gem Hunter’s Paradise
Located in rural southwest Arkansas, the 800-acre Crater of Diamonds State Park draws more than 100,000 visitors annually, all eager to try their luck hunting for diamonds within the park’s volcanic crater. Since the initial discovery in 1906 by farmer John Huddleston, more than 75,000 diamonds have been found on this unique site, which became an Arkansas state park in 1972.
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Highlights from this year include a New York City woman who spent three weeks searching for the perfect stone for her engagement ring, finally finding a 2.3-carat diamond on her last day, and a man who discovered a 3.29-carat brown diamond, the park’s largest find since a 4.38-carat diamond unearthed in September 2021.
- The William Diamond weighs 2.79 carats and is noted for its unique brown hue.
- The Crater of Diamonds is the only public diamond-bearing site where visitors can keep what they find.
- Annual visitors exceed 100,000, drawn by the thrill of diamond hunting.
- Since 1906, over 75,000 diamonds have been recovered from the park.
For further details and fascinating stories from the park, visit the full report on CBS News.
What Does This Spark for Aspiring Diamond Hunters?
The discovery of the William Diamond continues to fuel excitement around the opportunity to unearth valuable gems at Crater of Diamonds State Park. Park officials and visitors alike celebrate these finds, which demonstrate that remarkable treasures can still be found in this historic and accessible site.
Whether you’re planning a family trip or a dedicated gem search, the park offers a unique experience where the thrill of discovery and connection to nature combine.
Have you ever visited Crater of Diamonds State Park or dreamt of finding your own diamond treasure? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below!
