Murfreesboro, Arkansas is home to the only place where anyone can search for diamonds in their original volcanic source. For the lucky, it’s finders keepers.
Those who don’t mind getting their hands dirty revel in searching for diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park.
Yes, real diamonds.
They’re there for the taking for treasure hunters with patience, sharp eyes and the right tools. Located 45 minutes southwest of Hot Springs, Arkansas, Crater of Diamonds State Park is the only place in the world where diggers can keep the diamonds they find.
And, from time to time, people make some remarkable finds. About 600 diamonds are unearthed each year at Crater of Diamonds. That’s an average of one to two diamonds a day. The stones can be white, yellow or brown. The average size is a quarter karat. Park staff verify, weigh and register diamonds found.
A brown diamond found and registered at Crater of Diamonds State Park. (Photo credit: Arkansas Tourism)
Few things have as much concentrated value for the size. A high-quality diamond that weighs less than a penny may be worth more than $250,000.
Other minerals and gemstones, including garnets, amethyst, agate, jasper and quartz, also are found in the world’s eighth-largest diamond reserve.
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Treasure Hunting in a Field of Dirt at Crater of Diamonds State Park
The park’s 37-acre field of gems (the eroded surface of a volcanic crater) is a vast expanse of dirt that is plowed eight to 10 times a year to churn things up. At certain times it can be a muddy mess. But digging is easier after a rain, and rain brings diamonds up to the surface. There is no shade, and summer temperatures can top 100 degrees.
For their excavations, serious rockhounds bring shovels, buckets and screen boxes for sifting, plus wagons, folding chairs, coolers stocked with drinks and canopies for shade. The park rents equipment, but on busy days it sells out. Those who choose the wet sifting method can rinse dirt through a screen at washing pavilions and see what minerals are left behind.
For those with high hopes of making a big find, the search area at Crater of Diamonds State Park is a field of dreams. (Randy Mink Photo)
The whole field is diamond-bearing soil, but many diamonds are found near heavy gravel deposits where water washes through. Diamonds do not run in veins but are spread throughout the soil.
Among the rules for diamond miners:
- Stay within the field’s yellow boundary markers and do not dig within 15 feet of any trees or shrubs
- Do not use battery-powered or motor-driven mining tools
- Any hole dug must be filled in before leaving for the day
- Each visitor may remove up to one 5-gallon bucket of sifted gravel per day. Unsifted dirt may not be removed from the plowed field.
The visitor center has exhibits featuring diamonds in the rough, while the Diamond Discovery Center offers an instructional video on various mining techniques. Other park amenities include walking trails, picnic sites, campsites, a mining-themed water park and a pavilion that groups can reserve. Park admission is free, but there are fees for the water park and diamond search area.
Diamond prospectors can bring their own tools or rent them at the park. (Photo credit: Arkansas Tourism)
The 40-carat Uncle Sam diamond, the largest such stone ever unearthed in the U.S., was found at the site in 1924 before it was a state park (established in 1972). It is now on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. Other notable finds include the 16.37-carat Amarillo Starlight and 15.33-carat Star of Arkansas.
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Crystal Mining in Arkansas for Groups
Western Arkansas is also known for quartz crystal mining. The public is welcome to dig at a dozen or so commercial operations in Jessieville, Mount Ida and Hot Springs. Experiences range from digging tailings—piles of rocks and dirt from the mines—to mining private pockets.
Crystals can be pried from the ground by hand or with a shovel or pickaxe (available for rent). Fresh loads are brought in several times a week. Look for the red clay soil for the freshest finds. Gloves, knee pads and foam cushions make the work more comfortable.
In addition to dig opportunities, Ron Coleman Mining in Jessieville, 14 miles north of Hot Springs, conducts tours that include a short video on the mine’s history, a gallery with minerals and fossils from around the world, and a ride in an Army truck to see the crystal veins. The fifth-generation Coleman family enterprise also offers a zipline ride across the mining pit.
Ka-Do-Ha Indian Village, an archeological site outside of Murfreesboro, is another place to dig for crystals, but arrowheads and pottery shards also can be unearthed in the dirt field. The attraction preserves mounds built by civilizations that thrived centuries ago, and its museum showcases pipes, stone tools and other ancient artifacts.
Pike County Courthouse Square in Murfreesboro, Arkansas offers an abundance of inviting shops. (Randy Mink Photo)
The town of Murfreesboro abounds with fun shops, many of them offering rocks, minerals and jewelry. Among the favorites on Pike County Courthouse Square are Caddo Antiques, Hawkins Variety, Town Square Gallery and The Old Store. Another cool destination in town is Gypsy Underground Indoor Flea Market, which has more than 100 booths.
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By Randy Mink, Senior Editor
Lead photo courtesy of Arkansas Tourism
