Dig for Diamonds at This One-of-a-Kind Arkansas Volcano
▼ Summary
– Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas is a public diamond mine where visitors can dig for and keep any diamonds they find for a small entry fee.
– The site sits on a 100-million-year-old volcanic pipe that brought diamonds from the Earth’s mantle to the surface.
– Previous commercial mining attempts from 1906 to 1972 failed due to the low diamond concentration compared to other mines.
– It is the only diamond-producing site in the world open to the public for searching and keeping finds, with over 35,000 diamonds found since 1972.
– Visitors search plowed fields using basic tools, with no special licenses required but motorized equipment prohibited.
Nestled in the quiet southwest corner of Arkansas lies a geological treasure unlike any other, a place where ordinary people can hunt for genuine diamonds and walk away with whatever sparkling gems they unearth. Crater of Diamonds State Park offers a rare opportunity for visitors to explore a 37-acre field that sits directly above an ancient volcanic pipe, a site where precious stones were thrust to the surface nearly 100 million years ago.
This unique public dig site began its modern story in 1906 when a local farmer named John Wesley Huddleston stumbled upon the first diamonds. Over the following decades, several commercial mining operations attempted to profit from the area, but all eventually failed. The scattered nature of the gems made large-scale extraction unviable. Rather than lease the land to another corporation, the state of Arkansas made a visionary decision: in 1972, they established it as a public park where anyone could come and search.
Today, the park remains the only diamond-bearing site in the world open to the public where finders become keepers, no hidden fees, no profit sharing, just pure discovery. More than 35,000 diamonds have been recovered by visitors over the years, though success requires a blend of patience, persistence, and a little luck.
The search area is regularly plowed by park staff to churn fresh soil to the surface, giving every visitor a fair chance. While motorized equipment is off-limits, you’re welcome to bring shovels, buckets, sifting screens, and even wheelbarrows. Basic tools are available for rent, but many seasoned prospectors arrive with their own gear.
Families, rockhounds, and curious travelers all gravitate to the field, some scanning the ground with a casual eye, others methodically sifting through soil under the warm Arkansas sun. Whether you find a sparkling gem or simply enjoy the thrill of the hunt, a day spent digging here is an experience that truly shines.
(Source: Ars Technica)
