A young girl recently discovered a massive gem during a family trip to an Arkansas state park. Seven-year-old Aspen Brown celebrated her birthday at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfeesboro and stumbled upon a stunning 2.95 carat golden brown diamond, making it the second largest find at the park this year.
Interestingly, the largest diamond discovered this year was also brown, weighing in at about 3.29 carats, and was found back in March. Visitors to the park have the unique opportunity to take home any gems they come across. Now, Aspen can hold onto her sparkling treasure as a special keepsake from her birthday adventure.
A Closer Look at Aspen’s Gem Discovery at Crater of Diamonds State Park
Aspen, a resident of Paragould, and her family were strolling above the worn remnants of a volcanic surface in a plowed field when she felt the need for a breather. She opted to rest on some sizable rocks near the fence. As fate would have it, she stumbled upon a sparkling treasure in her downtime.
Excitedly, she ran to her father, Luther Brown, exclaiming she had found a diamond. They then visited the Diamond Discovery Center to verify their suspicions. Sure enough, the pea-sized gem was indeed a diamond.
Assistant park superintendent, Waymon Cox, lauded its beauty; a golden-brown hue with a radiant luster. The diamond is an intact crystal featuring no broken facets and a minuscule crevice on one side—an artifact from its formation process. In his words, it is “one of the most beautiful diamonds” seen in recent years.
Traditionally, visitors at the park bestow names upon their valuable finds. In this case, Aspen’s father felt that “Aspen Diamond” was a fitting moniker for the gem unearthed by his daughter. He also acknowledged the serendipity of the find, stating that the right place and time played a critical role in discovering the diamond.
How Many Diamonds Have Been Discovered?
Since the formation of Crater of Diamonds State Park in 1972, over 75,000 diamonds have been discovered within its premises. Interestingly, it was a farmer named John Huddleston who found diamonds on this land long before it became a state park. To this day, Crater of Diamonds holds the record for the largest diamond ever discovered in the U.S., dating back to 1924 during an early mining operation.
Visitors continue to find one to two diamonds every day at the park. In 2023 alone, 563 diamonds have been registered, with a total weight exceeding 89 carats. Notably, there has been a recent uptick in large diamond discoveries since park officials initiated an excavation project. They contracted a company to dig a 150-yard trench for erosion management on the north side of the search area. This activity likely exposed several tons of untouched, diamond-rich material, possibly leading to the added discoveries.
Handy Hints for Discovering Diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park
At Crater of Diamonds State Park, you have the unique opportunity to hunt for diamonds in a genuine volcanic source. Spanning 37.5 acres, this field is a treasure trove where you can keep any rocks, minerals, or gemstones you discover.
Feel free to bring your own mining equipment, or rent tools from the park. Just remember, battery-powered or motor-driven tools are not allowed. Keep an eye out for white, brown, and yellow diamonds, as these are the most common colors found here. Park staff will gladly help you identify your findings.
While searching, consider the following tips:
- Diamonds often appear as clean crystals with rounded surfaces and a metallic sheen.
- Many diamonds are discovered in gravel taken home from the park, as each guest can bring up to 5 gallons of sifted gravel home per day.
- Adult admission to the diamond search area is $13, while youth admission is $6.20. An annual pass is available for $220.
To learn more, visit the Crater of Diamonds State Park website and enjoy your diamond hunting adventure!
