Crater of Diamonds, AR
There is only one place on earth where anyone and everyone can mine for diamonds - Arkansas. This unlikely location has produced a number of the most precious gems ever discovered.
Our Experience
Like most places we have visited, we had no idea what to expect when gong to the Crater of Diamonds State Park. The only thing we really knew was that by entering the park we had a chance of finding a real diamond. More importantly, we were going to have the opportunity to keep a diamond - if we were lucky enough to find one.
The park looked like an ordinary state park as we entered through heavy lines of trees, and typical rural roads. However, when we entered through the gates of the mine, everything changed. A vast open field was churned into troughs and lined with people looking at the ground and carrying buckets. Imagine a cornfield with no corn, just dirt.
What equipment do people mine diamonds with?
Many people rent equipment from the Crater of Diamonds rental office. There you can rent all the necessary tools like shovels, buckets, and screens. Source
Do you get to keep the diamonds you find at Crater of Diamonds?
This is one of the most important questions about the park … and the answer is yes! If you believe you have found a diamond on the premises you can take your stone to the Diamond Discovery center and they will verify your find. At the end of the day you can take it home and do what you please with it. Source
Can anyone go to Crater of Diamonds?
Yes! Anyone can go to Crater of Diamonds State Park. All you need to do is pay the $10 entry fee and you are free to search all day. Source
How often are diamonds found at Crater of Diamonds?
On average, 1-2 diamonds are found each day at Crater of Diamonds State Park. More than 33,000 diamonds have been found by visitors since the area became a State Park in 1972. One of those diamonds is the only internally flawless diamond ever discovered. Source
What is the largest diamond found at Crater of Diamonds?
The Uncle Sam diamond is the largest diamond found at the park and was discovered in 1924. The gem is weighs a whopping 40.23 carats. Source
What are the chances of finding a diamond at Crater of Diamonds?
In 2017, about 182,000 visitors were recorded entering into the State Park. In that same year, 455 diamonds were found. That would give each visitor a 1 in 400 chance of finding a diamond. Source
Crater of Diamonds has produced some of the worlds largest gems
This Arkansas park is the only public diamond mine in the world
If you find a diamond here you keep it. They even send you home with an official certificate of authenticity.
Over 33,000 diamonds have been found at the Crater of Diamonds State Park.
The park has roughly 50 campsites for miners to stay at.