Thousands of diamonds have been found in Arkansas, many of them in the Crater of Diamonds State Park.  History has it that more than likely our Native Americans were the first to find the shiny pebbles and used them for trading purposes.  You’ll need to buy the book, “Genuine Diamonds Found in Arkansas” by Glenn W. Worthington to see photos of the various diamonds and read the geological history as to how all this came about.  It’s too complicated for this particular story. 

In 1972, the state of Arkansas purchased the Crater of Diamonds and determined it would be a place where people could hunt for diamonds.  “Finders keepers” is the park’s motto.  Whatever type of diamond you find, you get to keep.  As a novice miner, I thought everyone registered what they found, but have later discovered that not all diamonds found at the location have been registered.  So hopefully the 1,000 plus diamonds listed as found within this past year – may have greatly exceeded that number. 

Besides visiting the Crater of Diamonds, you can visit nearby Indian village, Ka-Do-Ha, here you’ll discover burial sites and mounds still unexcavated and at the village store, you can see for yourself a large collection of diamonds which have been found in the nearby crater.  I’m told by Victor Stone, that many of these diamonds were from the same individual, and that there are many other professional miners who still come to the state park to look for diamonds.  So who really knows how many diamonds are found? 

While I spent five days at the park, I didn’t find any diamonds.  On our last day there the rumor spread that a woman walked into the field and two furrows down right next to the entrance path was a shiny diamond, 1-carat size of course!  The excitement you feel when you’re there is overwhelming.  I kept checking the soles of my shoes hoping that one would be stuck in the rubber!

My idea of what was required for a trip to the diamond mine was sorely disproved when I finally arrived.  It had been raining and the lamproite earth, a greenish black clay, was gooey and hard to work with.  None of that easy sifting I had in my mind.  The sifting screens my girlfriend and I had made for the “panning” were too large and unwieldy.  Most professional miners use what they call a saruca which is a rounded screen which helps larger rocks and gravel settle to the bottom while sifting through dirt.

Here’s what you’ll need to make your stay at Crater of Diamonds State Park the most efficient and best it can be:  pack rubber boots, a rain suit and waterproof hat, a pocket knife, the usual tools for digging – hand spade, hand rake, small shovel, bucket for hauling dirt, and a saruca if possible, or at least a small sifting screen, lightweight for easier handling.  Besides your mining equipment don’t forget to pack the sun block, bottled water, snacks, a kneeling pad, old jeans and t-shirts, old medicine bottle to hold your diamonds, .

Remember you’re not there to win a beauty contest, so dress very comfortable and in clothes you won’t mind getting muddy.  When panning or sifting for diamonds, the clay is difficult to break up so you’ll find yourself frequenting the washing troughs.  Since many diamonds have been found by surface searching, using a pocket knife to scrape away at the soil is also useful.

Over 70,000 diamonds have been unearthed at the Crater since the first gems found in 1906, long before the state park was established here in 1972. The largest diamond ever discovered in the U. S. was unearthed here in 1924. Named the "Uncle Sam," this white diamond weighed 40.23 carats. Other notable finds from the Crater include the "Star of Murfreesboro" (34.25 carats) and the "Star of Arkansas" (15.33 carats).

The largest diamond of the 22,000 discovered since the Crater became an Arkansas state park is the 16.37-carat "Amarillo Starlight." A visitor from Amarillo, Texas found this white diamond on the surface of the diamond field in 1975. In June 1981, the 8.82-carat "Star of Shreveport" was added to the growing list of large valuable stones found at the Crater.

Diamonds may be any of several colors. The most common colors found at Crater of Diamonds are white, brown and yellow, in that order. Other semi-precious gems and minerals found at the park include amethyst, garnet, peridot, jasper, agate, calcite, barite and quartz. The over 40 different rocks and minerals that are unearthed at the Crater make it a rock-hound's delight.

I just couldn’t have asked for a better place to visit since I like camping and I like rock hunting especially for diamonds!  The park has over 50 sites for RV and tent camping.  The sites have electricity and water.  I saw 40 foot class A’s and then those who were camping out of the back of their trucks!  There is a dump station and shower houses at both ends of the camping area.  A small 4 washer/dryer laundry is available with a nearby playground area for children to play while mom does laundry.  Besides the camping, there is a fantastic park trail where you can walk for approximately a ½ mile on a paved path – wheelchair accessible and get a good view of the Little Missouri River. 

This particular park is a place where I’ll return many times in the future.  The allure of finding your treasure is addicting!  For more information contact Crater of Diamonds State Park for hours and availability for camping!  Happy Traveling

(Photos:  1.  Genuine Diamonds Found in Arkansas - Book by Glenn W. Worthington, 2.  Diamonds in hand – Crater of Diamonds State Park Website,

3. Screens – Image from National Geological Website, 4.  Park trail – author, 5.  Park entrance sign – author)