Exciting news from the Crater of Diamonds State Park! A whopping 3.29-carat diamond has been discovered, making it the largest one found at the park since September of 2021.
The lucky individual who stumbled upon this amazing find is David Anderson from Murfreesboro, Arkansas. Anderson is a regular at the park and has been visiting since 2007. He found his first diamond, a 1.7-carat white, during his first trip and has been hooked ever since.
Anderson said he discovered this new diamond on March 4 while wet-sifting soil from the West Drain of the search area.
“At first I thought it was quartz but wondered why it was so shiny,” Anderson said, according to FOX 17. “Once I picked it up, I realized it was a diamond.”
The newly found diamond is about the size of an English pea, with a light brown color and an octahedron shape. It has a metallic shine typical of all diamonds found at the park, with a partially resorbed surface and lots of inclusions.
According to Park Interpreter Tayler Markham, Anderson’s discovery brings the total number of registered diamonds found at the park this year to 124, averaging one or two diamonds found each day.
In 2021, a visitor from Granite Bay, California, found a 4.38-carat yellow diamond at the park, making Anderson’s discovery the second-largest find in recent months.
The Crater of Diamonds State Park is known for being the only diamond-producing site in the world open to the public. Visitors can explore the park and search for diamonds, and anything they find is theirs to keep.
The park covers 911 acres and has a variety of activities for visitors to enjoy, including camping, picnicking, and fishing.
It’s always exciting to hear about a new diamond discovery at the park, and we can’t wait to see what other amazing finds will be uncovered in the future!