Yes, you can keep diamonds found at Crater of Diamonds State Park. In fact, any rock or mineral you find at the park is yours to keep. This includes diamonds, which come in all colors of the rainbow, with white, brown, and yellow being the most common colors found at the park.
What is Crater of Diamonds State Park?
Crater of Diamonds State Park is a unique geological site located in Murfreesboro, Arkansas. It is the only diamond-bearing site in the United States that is open to the public for diamond prospecting. The park is home to a 37.5-acre diamond search area, where visitors can search for and keep any diamonds or other minerals they find.
Can You Keep the Diamonds You Find?
Yes, you can keep the diamonds you find at Crater of Diamonds State Park. The park’s policy is that any rock or mineral found within the diamond search area belongs to the person who found it. This includes diamonds, as well as other valuable minerals such as quartz, amethyst, and calcite.
What Types of Diamonds Can You Find?
The diamonds found at Crater of Diamonds State Park come in a variety of colors, including white, brown, yellow, and even pink and purple. The most common colors are white, brown, and yellow, but the park has also produced some notable diamonds, such as the 40.23-carat Uncle Sam, the largest diamond ever unearthed in the United States.
How to Search for Diamonds at Crater of Diamonds
Visitors to Crater of Diamonds State Park can bring their own mining equipment to search for diamonds, or they can rent tools from the park’s Diamond Discovery Center. The park provides complimentary identification of any rocks or minerals found, as well as diamond mining demonstrations and other interpretive programs.
Here are some tips for searching for diamonds at Crater of Diamonds:
- Bring the Right Equipment: While battery-operated or motor-driven mining tools are not allowed, visitors can bring hand tools such as shovels, trowels, and screens to sift through the gravel.
- Rent Tools from the Park: The Diamond Discovery Center offers a variety of rental tools, including shovels, screens, and buckets. A refundable deposit is required, and the tools must be returned daily.
- Follow the Park’s Rules: Visitors are allowed to take one 5-gallon bucket of sifted gravel when they leave the diamond search area per person.
- Attend Interpretive Programs: The park offers a variety of interpretive programs, including diamond mining demonstrations, that can help visitors learn more about the park and how to search for diamonds.
Admission and Hours
Crater of Diamonds State Park is open daily from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Admission fees are $15.00 for adults, $7.00 for children (ages 6-12), and free for children under 6 years old.
Conclusion
Crater of Diamonds State Park offers a unique opportunity for visitors to search for and keep diamonds and other minerals found within the park’s 37.5-acre diamond search area. With a variety of diamonds in different colors, and the ability to keep any rocks or minerals found, the park is a popular destination for both casual and serious diamond hunters.