Arkansas’ Diamond Rush: Dig and Keep Your Gems

For the price of a movie ticket, anyone can hunt for diamonds at this unique 37-acre state park. The site sits atop an ancient volcanic pipe that erupted 100 million years ago, bringing diamonds from the Earth’s mantle to the surface. All you need is a trowel and patience, as the park’s simple rule states: finders keepers.

The search field is regularly plowed to bring new material to the surface. Visitors use shovels, buckets, and sifting screens to search the soil, which also contains amethyst, garnet, and quartz. Most diamonds are small, resembling glassy pebbles rather than cut gems. The largest ever found was the 40-carat Uncle Sam diamond.

Over 35,000 diamonds have been found since 1972. Park staff provide free identification and advise keeping expectations in check, as most finds are tiny. Despite the challenging Arkansas heat and mud, the thrill of a potential discovery draws over 180,000 visitors annually.

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