A 7-year-old girl found the second largest diamond ever recorded this year in an Arkansas state park.
Aspen Brown was visiting Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murphysboro, about 90 miles southwest of Little Rock, with her family on Friday to celebrate her birthday.
Aspen went home from the park with a shiny new trinket, a 2.95 golden brown carat diamond found on the north side of the park, according to a news update from Arkansas State Parks.
The largest diamond found this year was extracted in March weighing approximately 3.29 carats. The diamond was also brown.
More Information on Aspen’s Adventure at Crater of Diamonds State Park
The Paragold resident and his family were walking across a plowed field just above the eroded surface of the volcano when they decided to stop and rest for a while.
“She was overheated and wanted to sit down for a minute, so she went over to some big rocks near the fence line. The next thing I know, she was running towards me saying, ‘Dad! Father! I found one!,” Aspen’s father, Luther Brown, shared with park officials.
The gem aspen picked up along the way was the size of a pea. The family stopped by the Diamond Discovery Center to ask park officials to confirm that the diamond had been found.
“Aspen’s diamond has a golden-brown color and a brilliant luster. It is a perfect crystal with no broken facets and a small crack on one side that was formed when the diamond was formed. This is certainly one of the most beautiful diamonds I have seen in recent years,” said assistant park superintendent Wayman Cox.
Tourists often name the diamond or diamonds found in the park. Luther Brown thought the Aspen diamond was the perfect name for the diamond his daughter was to receive.
“He didn’t need any skill to find it. As Luther Brown said, she was in exactly the right place at exactly the right time.
How many diamonds have been found?
A farmer named John Huddleston was digging for diamonds on the Crater of Diamonds land before it became a state park in 1972. According to park officials, more than 75,000 diamonds have been found since then.
The largest diamond ever found in the Americas was found in 1924 at the Crater of Diamonds during the initial mining operation.
Park visitors find one to two diamonds daily and 563 diamonds have been registered in the park in 2023, totaling over 89 carats.
Aspen’s diamond was the first major diamond to be registered after park officials began the excavation project last month.
“A contracting company dug a 150-yard trench in August to help manage erosion in the northern part of the search area. Park Superintendent Caleb Howell wrote, “Many tons of undiscovered diamond material has been exposed and it is quite possible that this diamond and other diamonds have been exposed as a result.”
Tips for Finding Diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park
According to the Crater of Diamonds State Park website, Crater of Diamonds State Park is one of the only places in the world where visitors can search for diamonds from an original volcanic source.
The diamond exploration area covers an area of 37.5 acres. Any rock, mineral, or gem a visitor finds is his to keep.
Visitors may also bring their own mining equipment or rent equipment from the park. The website states that no battery operated or motorized mining equipment is allowed.
Although diamonds come in all sizes and colors, three colors are most commonly found in the park: white, brown, and yellow. Park staff will assist with the identification of any rocks, minerals or gems found in the park.
Here are some things to keep in mind as you search:
- Diamonds are usually clear crystals with rounded surfaces and a metallic luster.
- About half of all diamonds registered by park guests are found in sifted gravel brought home from the park.
- Each guest can take home five gallons of sifted gravel per day to search for diamonds later.
Admission to the Diamond Discovery Area is $13 for adults and $6.20 for adults. An entrance fee costs $220. For more information, visit the Crater of Diamonds State Park website.
