The Crater of Diamonds Park is a diamond treasure formed by geological and volcanic activity that shaped the area approximately 3 billion years ago.
Located in Murfreesboro, Arkansas, USA, covering nearly 370 acres, Crater of Diamonds Park offers a unique opportunity for everyone because it is the only diamond mine in the world accessible to the public, according to IFL Science. The story begins about 3 billion years ago when immense heat and pressure from geological and volcanic activity created diamonds deep beneath the Earth’s surface. Diamonds can be pushed to the surface when moving along a type of molten rock called kimberlite. This occurred in what is now Crater of Diamonds Park when a volcanic pipe known as the Prairie Creek volcanic breccia pipe formed.
A volcanic breccia pipe is a type of volcanic conduit associated with gas explosions, created when weaknesses in the Earth’s crust emerged during the movement, dispersal, and separation due to tectonic plate shifts that caused continents to break apart and collide. When the Prairie Creek breccia pipe surfaced, it left behind a 34-acre crater filled with diamonds. However, according to Atlas Obscura, it wasn’t until the early 20th century that the potential for finding diamonds here was discovered by a man seeking fortune.
This area was once a volcanic crater thousands of years ago. Besides diamonds, there are also quartz and jasper, as noted by VTC.
Although entry is free, not everyone finds diamonds. The diamonds formed millions of years ago. When this area was still an active volcano, diamonds were brought to the surface during eruptions.
This unique park in the USA is open for everyone to dig for diamonds. (Photo: Amusing)
John Huddlestone was the one who discovered diamonds here. However, he did not mine them but sold them for $36,000. Later, an investment company ramped up mining efforts but produced little.
Eventually, the area was opened to the public. In 1972, the Arkansas government purchased it to turn it into a park. If luck smiles upon visitors, they may become the owners of a gem hidden in the soil.
The diamonds found here are usually very small, but sometimes luck strikes, and a few can weigh several carats. (Photo: Amusing)
Visitors can take home everything they find without any charge. The only fee is the entrance ticket, which costs $5 for children (ages 6 to 12) and $8 for adults. If visitors do not bring their own diamond digging tools, they can rent them on-site.
Thanks to this unique feature, the park attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists each year. Most come here hoping to find valuable diamonds.
Since Crater of Diamonds became a state park in Arkansas in 1972, visitors have found a total of more than 35,000 diamonds. Notably, the largest diamonds found include Uncle Sam (40.23 carats), the biggest diamond ever mined in the USA, Amarillo Starlight (16.37 carats), Star of Arkansas (15.33 carats), and Esperanza (8.52 carats). In September 2023, a 7-year-old girl found a 2.95-carat brown diamond on her birthday. Visitors are allowed to bring their own diamond digging tools to the park, except for battery-operated or motorized equipment.
