Crater of Diamonds State Park is a 911-acre Arkansas state park in Pike County, Arkansas, in the United States. The park features a 37.5-acre plowed field, one of the few diamond-bearing site accessible to the public. Diamonds have continuously been discovered in the field since 1906, including the graded-perfect Strawn-Wagner Diamond, found in 1990, and the Uncle Sam, found in 1924, which at over 40 carats is the largest diamond ever found in the United States.
The site became a state park in 1972 after the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourismpurchased the site from the Arkansas Diamond Company and Ozark Diamond Mines Corporation, who had previously operated the site as a tourist attraction.
Gallery of photos
Visitor Center
Museum
Water Park
Crater of Diamonds State Park is known for the 37.5-acre plowed field on which visitors can hunt for diamonds and other semi-precious gems. On average, two diamonds are found per day by park visitors. A visitor center contains information about the geology of the park, a gift shop, and a cafe. Interested visitors can continue to the Diamond Discovery Center, which offers an interpretive look at prospecting for diamonds.
The Diamond Springs aquatic playground, enclosed pavilion, trails, and picnic areas surround the diamond field. The park offers campers 47 Class AAA facilities near the Little Missouri River.
Diamond Mine
Crater of Diamonds State Park is situated over an eroded lamproite volcanic pipe. The park is open to the public and, for a small fee, rockhounds and visitors can dig for diamonds and other gemstones. Park visitors find more than 600 diamonds each year of all colors and grades. As of 2015 over 75,000 diamonds had been found in the crater. Visitors may keep any gemstone they find regardless of its value.
In addition to diamonds, visitors may find semi-precious gems such as amethyst, agate, and jasper or approximately 40 other minerals such as garnet, phlogopite, quartz, baryte, and calcite.
Coversations/Things we learned:
This is a good place to visit for geology enthusiasts and for the entire family. There is a small fee for digging and sifting in the Diamond field. There is also a small tool fee for those who don't have shovels, buckets, and screen sifts. There are also hiking trails and camp grounds for RVs.
Contact Information:
Park location and contact:
209 State Park Rd.
Murfreesboro, AR 71958
Phone: (870) 285-3113
Web page