On Friday, September 27, a visitor at Arkansas’ Crater of Diamonds State Park made an exciting discovery by unearthing a 2.30-carat white diamond in the park’s 37.5-acre diamond search area. This marks the third diamond of over two carats discovered this year and the second-largest diamond found in 2024.
The guest arrived at the park right when it opened at 8 a.m., eager to start their adventure. After renting a basic kit from the Diamond Discovery Center, they began the wet sifting process, washing diamond-bearing gravel through screens to remove dirt. After several hours of unsuccessful searching, the visitor decided to switch to surface searching, saying, “If I find a diamond today, it will probably be right here on the surface.”
Crater of Diamonds State Park is famous for large diamonds being found on the surface. According to Assistant Park Superintendent Waymon Cox, the park’s soil is occasionally plowed to expose diamond-bearing materials and promote natural erosion. “As rain falls on the field, it washes away dirt and uncovers heavy rocks, minerals, and diamonds near the surface,” Cox explained.
On September 27, the conditions were perfect for surface searching. The field had been recently plowed and had received rain just two days prior. Clear skies and sunlight offered ideal conditions for spotting a diamond’s sparkle. While strolling west of the park’s North Wash pavilion, the visitor noticed something shiny on the ground. “From a distance, it shone so brightly,” they recalled, initially mistaking it for either trash or an insect due to its unusual glimmer.
Upon closer inspection, they realized they had found a diamond. The gem was taken to the Diamond Discovery Center, where Park Interpreter Sarah Reap confirmed it weighed 2.30 carats. “Even after a few years of working here, I still find it astonishing when someone casually pulls a large diamond from their pocket,” Reap commented.
The diamond is a silvery-white gem with a round, textured surface, roughly the size of a pencil eraser. At first glance, it appears brown, but closer examination reveals multiple inclusions that affect how light travels through the stone. While the center appears dark brown, the outer layer is clear white, a contrast typical of natural diamonds with structural imperfections.
White diamonds, like this one, are typically closer to pure carbon crystals, while brown diamonds found in the park result from plastic deformation, which gives them their color. Almost all naturally found diamonds exhibit inclusions that affect their appearance.
As of now in 2024, a total of 548 diamonds weighing over 82 carats have been registered at the park, with an average of one to two diamonds discovered each day.
