Diamonds are a girl’s best friend…or so the song says. At Arkansas’ Crater of Diamonds State Park near Murfreesboro, a gal—or a guy—can dig for one of those sparkly stones. And what one finds, one keeps—no questions asked. At this Arkansas State Park, the diamond mine—which is actually a 37-acre plowed field—is the only diamond-producing site in the world open to the public. For a small fee, one can become a prospector for an entire day—or as some do, make mining for diamonds a regular routine.About two diamonds are unearthed each day, adding up to more than 75,000 diamonds discovered since the first one found by local farmer, John Huddleston, in 1906. Over the years, several large diamonds from the Crater have been cut into D Flawless stones. Most diamonds found are too small to be cut, but they make valued souvenirs of a trip to the state park. Additionally, over 40 types of semi-precious stones and minerals, including amethyst, banded agate, jasper, garnet, quartz, and hematite, wait for discovery in the black soil. Again, finders keepers, and no loser weeps because digging is all in a day’s fun.
Some prospectors walk up and down the plowed rows looking for the same sparkle that caught Farmer Huddleston’s eye over 100 years ago. Most prefer to get down and dirty mining with garden tools or a shovel, and sifting the loose soil through a screen. Tools are available to rent, but generally, folks tote their own. Any tool is permissible to search for diamonds as long as it does not have wheels, a motor, or battery power.
No matter if you walk and look or bend and dig, wear old boots or sturdy shoes and washable clothing. If you stretch your comfort zone getting your hands in the soil, pack a pair of gloves. Some serious diggers bring a low stool to sit on while sifting the dirt. When someone finds a diamond, the park staff sets off a siren, sometimes jacking up momentum for others in the field to dig deeper and faster. Their notion? If one diamond is discovered, surely others must be deeper in the soil.
The field is open with no trees. Bring a hat and sun screen. Following a rain, expect mud. The pleasure, for all but the most serious prospector, is in the hunt, whether one finds a stone or not.
In 2009, a Springdale, Arkansas, resident, Glenn Worthington found a 2.04 carat yellow diamond after sifting dirt and gravel through a screen—something he’s done almost every week for three decades. His diamond was the largest found in the park for that year. However, back in 1924, a mining crew discovered the largest stone ever found in Crater of Diamonds, weighing 40.23 carats.
“Yellow diamonds, reminiscent of the bright yellow on an American goldfinch, are the most sought after gems in the park,” Tom Stolarz, regional superintendent for state parks in the northwest corner of Arkansas, stated in an article appearing in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Formerly general manager of Crater of Diamonds State Park, he adds that foreign reporters visiting the site express disbelief that the park allows visitors to keep the treasures they find.
Crater of Diamonds Visitor Center features history of an ancient volcanic pipe that 95 million years ago brought diamonds to the earth’s surface. Displays include diamonds from the Crater and stories of the men and women who invested lifetimes in mining the field. Although most prospectors are casual travelers, stopping by for a day or two to experience digging for diamonds, some like Glenn Worthington pursue the elusive shiny stones regularly—even on a daily basis.
The park’s campground accommodates all sizes of motorhomes, offering 50 amp power, water, and sewer hookups. The wooded campground is a perfect Arkansas stop-over for travelers to explore nearby Lake Greeson and the Ouachita Mountains. Reservations are recommended, but December, January, and February offer winter rates.
Contact: Phone: (870) 285-3113 or rhttp://www.craterofdiamondsstatepark.com
Crater of Diamonds Visitor Center features history of an ancient volcanic pipe that 95 million years ago brought diamonds to the earth’s surface. Displays include diamonds from the Crater and stories of the men and women who invested lifetimes in mining the field. Although most prospectors are casual travelers, stopping by for a day or two to experience digging for diamonds, some like Glenn Worthington pursue the elusive shiny stones regularly—even on a daily basis.
The park’s campground accommodates all sizes of motorhomes, offering 50 amp power, water, and sewer hookups. The wooded campground is a perfect Arkansas stop-over for travelers to explore nearby Lake Greeson and the Ouachita Mountains. Reservations are recommended, but December, January, and February offer winter rates.
Contact: Phone: (870) 285-3113 or rhttp://www.craterofdiamondsstatepark.com
Traveling in their motorhome several months each year, Arline and her photographer husband, Lee Smith, make their permanent home in Heber Springs, Arkansas. She currently is a presenter for Workamper Rendezvous, sponsored by Workamper News. Arline has dozens of magazine articles published, as well as five books: “Road Work: The Ultimate RVing Adventure” (now available on Kindle); “Road Work II: The RVer’s Ultimate Income Resource Guide”; “Truly Zula; When Heads & Hearts Collide”; and “The Heart of Branson”, a history of the families who started the entertainment town and those who sustain it today. Visit Arline’s personal blog at ArlineChandler.Blogspot.com
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