A Gem Among Diamond Sites

Arkansas The Natural State is blessed with an abundance of geological wonders. Crater of Diamonds State Park, the only diamond-producing site in the world open to the public, stands out as a unique geological "gem" for you to explore and enjoy.

Here you can experience a one-of-a-kind adventure hunting for real diamonds. You'll search over a 37 1/2-acre plowed field, the eroded surface of an ancient volcanic crater that 100 million years ago brought to the surface the diamonds and some of the semi-precious stones lucky visitors find here today.

Diamonds come in all colors of the rainbow. The three colors unearthed here are white, brown and yellow, in that order. Crater of Diamonds State Park is a rockhound's delight since, along with diamonds, more than 40 types of rocks and minerals can found here, too. These rocks and minerals include lamproite, amethyst, banded agate, jasper, peridot, garnet, quartz, calcite, barite, and hematite.

In 1906, John Huddleston, the local farmer who owned this property then, found the first diamonds near Murfreesboro, Arkansas, and started the diamond mining rush. According to the history of Crater of Diamonds State Park, after a series of ill-fated diamond mining ventures, followed by tourist attractions, the diamond mine site became an Arkansas state park in 1972.

Within the park boundary, many remnants of old mining ventures remain, including the Mine Shaft Building, the Guard House, mining plant foundations, old mining equipment and smaller artifacts. Nowhere else is North Americandiamond mining history as evident or as well preserved as here.

Along with the diamond search area, the park has hundreds of acres of natural forest featuring a diversity of flora and fauna and offering visitors interesting things to do. Arkansas's natural and cultural diversity evident here in the park's geology, history, plants and animals makes Crater of Diamonds State Park a unique Arkansas attraction. It is a one-of-a-kind experience in the world. You are invited to experience this unique attraction and enjoy the thrill of digging for diamonds in the rough. The park staff will identify your finds for you. And unlike other diamond-bearing sites, our park policy is "finders, keepers." Any diamonds, semi-precious stones, rocks, or minerals you unearth are yours to keep, regardless of their value.

To locate more attractions near Crater of Diamonds State Park, visit the Attractions, Lodging and Dining page on the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism website, Arkansas.com.


Crater of Diamonds State Park
209 State Park Road
Murfreesboro, AR 71958
Email: craterofdiamonds@arkansas.com
Phone: (870) 285-3113

Ark. state park visitor claims 2.1-carat diamond




After park staff verified and registered her diamond, Andrea decided that the best name for it would be the Andrea Birthday Diamond.




Andrea Murphy (holding card and diamond) dug up the diamond on Friday during a family visit to celebrate her 30th birthday.


MURFREESBORO, AR (AP/KSLA) - A visitor at Crater of Diamonds State Park at Murfreesboro has found a 2.1-carat brown diamond.

Since the diamond is he traditional birthstone for those born in the month of April, Andrea Murphy of Gentry, Arkansas was hoping to dig one up on a family visit to the Crater of Diamonds State Park, and she did.
Murphy dug up the diamond on Friday during a family visit to celebrate her 30th birthday.

The park says the square, iced tea brown diamond was a surface find in the East Drain area of the park, after Andrea searched for about 2 hours.
The colors of diamonds found at the park are white, brown, and yellow, in that order. "Because of their dark color, brown diamonds are the most difficult to find, according to Park Interpreter Margi Jenks. "However, this is the second large brown diamond found at the park in the last two weeks. A beautiful 1.61-carat brown diamond was found by a park visitor from St. Louis, Missouri, on March 28."

The southwest Arkansas park is unique in that patrons can keep any diamonds they find. The diamond found by Murphy is the 144th diamond found this year by a Crater of Diamonds visitor. The park says the stone is also the sixth diamond found in 2013 weighing more than 1 carat.

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