The Legal “Diamond Mine”
Crater of Diamonds State Park, located in Murfreesboro, Arkansas, USA, is the only park in the world that allows visitors to mine for diamonds directly from an ancient volcanic crater.
The park spans 37 acres (nearly 15 hectares) and is open daily from 8 AM to 4 PM, except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Since 1972, it has become a popular destination for gem hunters. Visitors flock from all over with the hope of finding a valuable gemstone.
Statistics show that, on average, one to two small diamonds are discovered daily. To date, over 35,000 diamonds have been found at the park. Among them is the largest diamond ever discovered in the US, a 40.23-carat diamond named “Uncle Sam.” This precious stone is currently displayed in the mineral and gem collection of the Smithsonian Institution, part of the National Museum of Natural History in Washington. Diamonds found at the park typically come in white, yellow, or brown. Additionally, visitors might encounter other gemstones and minerals such as amethyst, garnet, jasper, and agate.
Admission to the diamond search area is $7 for children aged 6 to 12 and $15 for those 13 and older. Visitors are permitted to bring their own mining tools or rent them at the park; however, any battery-powered or motorized equipment is prohibited. Each person is also allowed to take home one bucket of screened gravel per day to continue their search after returning home.
Furthermore, the park hosts mining technique demonstrations and assists visitors in identifying their finds.
The “Lucky Hunters”
One of the familiar faces at the park is Scott Kreykes. In 2022, he found the 35,000th diamond recorded in the area. Remarkably, this was also the 50th gem he had discovered that year and the 80th in his overall search journey. For his impressive achievement, Kreykes was awarded two complimentary nights at an Arkansas state park, along with a special display case for his diamond and a personalized registration card.
One of the most notable recent discoveries was a 3.81-carat brown diamond. The finder was David DeCook, during a trip with his brother Derek on April 21st. When he spotted something shiny like foil on the ground, David initially thought it was discarded candy wrapper. However, upon closer inspection, he realized he had stumbled upon a diamond.
He named the stone “The Duke Diamond,” after his beloved dog. According to park management, this is the largest diamond discovered so far this year. The exact value of the stone has not yet been appraised, but it is likely to be worth thousands of USD. Previously, in 2013, a teenage girl named Tana Clymer found an extremely rare 3.85-carat canary diamond. Officials estimated the stone’s value to be between $50,000 and $60,000.
Besides diamond hunting, Crater of Diamonds State Park offers many other exciting experiences, including hiking trails, picnic areas, camping grounds, a fishing lake, and a gem-mining-themed water park called Diamond Springs.
With its combination of exploration, entertainment, and the chance to strike it rich with a diamond, this park has become a unique and attractive destination for nature lovers, those who enjoy testing their luck, and gem enthusiasts alike.