Two Large Diamonds Found at Crater of Diamonds State Park

Have you heard? Two large diamonds were found at Crater of Diamonds State Park in  Murfreesboro, Arkansas within the last few days.

According to a press release, “This unique park is one of our state’s most popular destinations,” said Stacy Hurst, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism.

“It’s always exciting for one of our guests to find a gem, and the staff is really great at working with them to confirm what they have found and hear each particular story of how they found it.”

The Serendipity Diamond was found by Dr. Mindy Pomtree of Benton, Ark., on July 13, 2020, and according to records, this is the 12th largest diamond found since 1972. The diamond which was found near Beatty's Hill looked like a glittering pebble on top of the ground. Park Interpreter Waymon Cox noted that many of the park’s large diamonds tend to be found on the surface. “Diamonds are a bit heavy for their size. When it rains, runoff washes away small rocks and minerals and sometimes uncovers larger diamonds, such as Dr. Pomtree’s.

After returning from a jeweler to get verification and confirmation Pomtree was asked to return to the park to have it registered and weighed by park officials. Park Superintendent Caleb Howell confirmed that it is one of the biggest diamond finds he's ever seen since working at the park. The diamond weighs 6.39 carats and is about the size of a pumpkin seed.

On July 9, a 4th-grade school teacher from Athens, Alabama William “David” Dempsey found 2.73-carat diamond. Dempsey was wet sifting with his youngest daughter when he found the diamond. “I was running my finger through some gravel I had just sifted, and the diamond popped right out. Park Interpreter Cox noted, “Mr. Dempsey’s diamond has a very clear, water-white appearance. It has a beautiful rounded shape and a brilliant shine. Dempsey’s diamond was found near where another large white diamond, the Strawn-Wagner, was discovered in 1990.

Dempsey named his gem the Dempsey-Ducharme Diamond, as a tribute to his family’s unforgettable experience at the park. He plans to have the diamond examined and appraised before deciding whether to keep or sell it.

At least, one or two diamonds are found there each day. Thus far, 171 diamonds have been registered at Crater of Diamonds State Park in 2020, weighing more than 35 carats; six diamonds registered this year have weighed at least one carat each.

Admission to Crater of Diamonds State Park is currently limited to 800 tickets per day, due to COVID-19 restrictions. Visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance at CraterofDiamondsStatePark.com

Crater of Diamond State Park located on Arkansas Highway 301 in Murfreesboro is a short drive from Texarkana and fun for the whole family.