The Crater of Diamonds State Park, in Murfreesboro, Arkansas, is the world’s only diamond mine open to the public. You can go on the treasure hunt to end all treasure hunts, and you get to keep whatever you unearth.
Park officials claim that over 600 diamonds of various colours and grades are found by visitors every year.
The park has been a haven for the glittering gems since the mine was first discovered in 1906. The precious stones are believed to have been created up to three billion years ago, up to 100 miles below the earth’s surface. They were brought to ground following a huge volcanic eruption.
The state purchased the mine in 1972, and it became a state park.
Each years, hundreds of thousands of visitors dig through the dirt in search of a stellar find.
The most impressive yield to date was the 40-carat ‘Uncle Sam’ – the largest diamond ever discovered in the United States, while the 16-carat ‘Amarillo Starlight’, discovered in 1975, was the largest diamond ever found by a visitor since the park opened to the public.
Just last June, Bobbie Oskarson from Colorado found an 8.52 carat icicle-shaped gem, the fifth-largest diamond found by a visitor to the park.
