① State Park Where You Can Mine Diamonds
How would you feel if you found a diamond at a tourist spot? In reality, this is possible in the U.S. A U.S. tourist spot where you can take home diamonds is attracting attention even in South Korea.
It’s the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas. In this park, visitors can take home any diamond they find. Park visitors discover an average of 1-2 diamonds per day. This year alone, they have found 563 diamonds, totaling over 89 carats.
This place became a hot topic after farmer John Huddleston, who owned the land in 1906, discovered diamonds. Since then, they have excavated over 75,000 diamonds, attracting attention. Various companies tried to mine commercial diamonds, but after they failed, the state designated it as a park in 1972.
People know the Arkansas State Park for its unique geological features, and they also find many gems, such as amethyst and garnet, in addition to diamonds. Visitors can pay an admission fee and search for gems in a 1.61 million square feet field. It is famous as the only volcanic region in the world where the general public can mine diamonds.
Every year, more than 120,000 visitors come here to search for diamonds. Many people visit the park regularly for several years to find diamonds. Many visitors have found diamonds after persistent efforts.
The park allows visitors to take home soil in a 5-gallon bucket. There have been cases where a visitor found a diamond while examining the soil taken from the park. In 2015, someone found an 8.52-carat diamond in the Arkansas State Park and sold it for $1 million, creating a buzz.
② Large Diamond Found by a 7-Year-Old
On the 1st of last month, 7-year-old visitor Aspyn Brown discovered a 2.95-carat diamond at the Arkansas State Park. Brown visited the Arkansas State Park with her family for her birthday.
She found a brown diamond shining with a golden light on the ground while playing in the field. Brown discovered the diamond while walking to a large rock to rest because the weather was too hot. She picked up the diamond and ran to her father.
Seeing a brown diamond the size of a pea, the family visited the ‘Diamond Discovery Center,’ an appraisal center located in the park. They applied for a diamond appraisal and were judged to have found a natural diamond.
Park Assistant Director Wayman Cox introduced Brown’s diamond as a “perfect crystal without any broken surfaces, with a golden brown color and a sparkling luster.” He added, “It’s one of the most beautiful diamonds I’ve seen recently.”
At the Arkansas State Park, you can also name the diamonds you find there. Brown called her diamond ‘Aspyn.’ Her family said, “No special skills were needed to find the diamond. We were just in the right place at the right time.”
This diamond is the second-largest diamond found by park visitors this year, following a 3.29-carat diamond discovered last March. It was an excellent gift for Brown, who was celebrating her birthday.
③ Diamonds Worth $1.5M Also Found
The largest diamond ever found in the U.S. was discovered at the Arkansas State Park. In 1942, they found a pinkish 40.23-carat white diamond. They cut this diamond into a 12.42-carat emerald shape and sold it to a private collector.
A diamond worth $1.5 million was found at the Arkansas State Park. On October 7, 2020, a 30-year-old banker living in Momel, Arkansas, Kevin Kinard, found a 9.07-carat diamond. He had been visiting the park regularly since his elementary school field trip. Kevin had been envious of others finding diamonds but never found one himself.
Then, as usual, he visited the park and found a sparkling object while walking. He took it to the appraisal center, and it was confirmed to be a diamond. In an interview, Kevin said, “I was so surprised that I even shed tears,” vividly conveying his emotions. He kept the diamond in the bank where he works. This diamond is expected to be worth up to $1.5 million.
By. Seo Sung Min (fv_editor@fastviewkorea.com)
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