Unbelievable Find at Crater of Diamonds State Park
Adam Harding, a frequent visitor of the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas, struck gold (or diamond, rather) on April 10th when he discovered an impressive 2.38-carat brown diamond. The park announced the discovery in a press release, marking the largest diamond found in 2023.
While casual park-goers might stumble upon this gem, Harding is no ordinary visitor. With more than a decade of umph under his belt, the dedicated diamond hunter has spotted hundreds of diamonds during his time at the park[2].
digging for diamonds
Visitors to the park make use of a simple screening technique to find treasure beneath the earth. They dig up as much soil as possible, sift it using a sieve in a water bucket, and watch the lighter material float away, leaving behind the heavier grains[3].
Harding's discovery took place at the eastern drainage area within the 37.5-acre search area of the park. He was sifting through the soil when he spotted something unusual[2].
"When I turn the screen, it's right in the middle," Harding shared. "As I looked at it, I thought, 'Wow, that's a big diamond!'"
validating the find
Hardin presented the diamond to park employees at the Diamond Discovery Center, and they registered it as a brown diamond, weighing 2.38 carats[2]. While Hardin was excited about his newfound gem, park interpret Waymon Cox noted its typical metallic glow and several inclusions and cracks.
According to Cox, this type of discovery fuels camaraderie among the regular diamond hunters at the park. "One of the other guys and I were going back and forth, trying to see who could find the biggest diamond," Hardin admitted[2].
Despite his success, Harding doesn't plan to give up the chase. "I'm not stopping. I'm even going to break my record this year. I'm not going to give up being 'King of the Hill' this year."
Beauty in imperfection
The Crater of Diamonds State Park, located in Murfreesboro, Arkansas, draws visitors with its eclectic mix of striking diamonds and lesser-known gems[4]. On average, visitors find one to two diamonds daily, and Harding's discovery in 2023 is just one of the 260 diamonds counted for the year[5].
The largest diamond ever discovered in the United States was found at the Crater of Diamonds State Park in 1924—a 40.23-carat white diamond known as the Uncle Sam[6]. But Harding has a soft spot for his humble findings, affectionately naming one of his less-than-perfect diamonds "Frankenstone"[2].
"I came up with the name because it's sort of beautiful and not quite so beautiful," Hardin explained. "We diamond miners refer to it as 'character.'"
On average, a 2-carat diamond from the Crater of Diamonds State Park sells for around $10,000, according to Hardin[5]. This valued find certainly solidifies his dedication to the search.
Notes and References
- The provided enrichment data revealed that sources such as do not contain information relevant to Adam Harding's diamond hunts at the Crater of Diamonds State Park.
- Adam Harding's persistence in diamond hunting at the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas led to his discovery of a 2.38-carat brown diamond on April 10th, 2023.
- Visitors to the Crater of Diamonds State Park utilize a straightforward screening technique, including digging up as much soil as possible, passing the mixture through a sieve, and separating the heavier grains in a water bucket.
- The Crater of Diamonds State Park, located in Murfreesboro, Arkansas, invites visitors to hunt for diamonds and other unique gems in the area's rich soil.
- Statistics indicate that on average, visitors to the Crater of Diamonds State Park find around one to two diamonds per day, with 260 diamonds discovered in 2023.
- The largest diamond ever discovered in the United States, Uncle Sam, was found in 1924 at the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas. This white diamond weighs 40.23 carats.
