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CraterofDiamondsStatePark.com

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ndnyhagen

ndnyhagen

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 8, 2006
Messages
100
Has anyone ever visited and mined at this state park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas? Curious as to what your experiences have been here. This seems like a perfect weekend destination for a diamond fanatic. (Also could be a cute alternative way to "pop the question"!)
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Sorry.......never heard of this until you posted this. But, honestly, can''t chat. Running home. Packing my bags. Heading out to dig my dream rock..........LOL

Sounds like fun!
 
Yes - been there, done that. It was inexpensive (~$5?) and I brought a lot of my own equipment. It is also a LOT of hard work - especially for one person!

I chalk it up to a unique and fun experience, but had to quit after about half a day...just too pooped!

Of course, I did not succeed in finding anything, but what the hey you can always buy some of the rough diamonds found there in the gift shop!

"Joker" on this board might drop in and tell us of his many trips there, AND especially of finding a rare fancy colored diamond on one trip!

Go - enjoy! - propose!
 
Just read on a Rapaport email that an unnamed diamond minimg house is looking at 120 acres near Murfreesboro, Arkansas as potential minimg grounds. Go pan your own before they''re gone!
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Has anyone else visited and successfully mined? What did you find? (The next Cullinan ??
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)
Thank you!
 
I found a 1.55ct diamond at the Crater of Diamonds back in 1998 and was on the Oprah show with it. I had it cut, and the picture is my avaitar. There is a good $12 book about the Crater and its history in case anyone is interested. The book can be found here.
http://www.diamondsinar.com/

Joker....
 
Joker... that is so cool!! What method did you use to find it? I can''t imagine there are many 1.5cts sitting on the surface! Do you have any more pictures?
 

The "Old Timers" will tell you to follow the "gravel" when you are searching. My wife and I subscribe to the Murfreesboro Diamond (a weekly newspaper), so we can keep up with the latest news articles from the Crater. 536 diamonds were found and recorded at the Crater in 2005. The largest found last year was a 3.36ct fancy yellow.


Pick048.jpg


As requested (hope this works), more pictures.


Joker....

 
Thank you so much for posting those. That is such a great story! It must have been so exciting... now I just have to convince my guy to take me
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Okay, this sounds like the ultimate field trip for PSers.
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Joker, what an awesome find. Congrats.

shay
 

There were 52,000 visitors at the Crater who paid to search for diamonds last year, and 536 diamonds were found, that means your chances of finding a diamond are about 1 in 100. Most of the diamonds found are in the .10ct to .20ct range. And most of the diamonds are probably found by the "old timers" who know what to look for and also how to search. The "Joker" was just lucky....


Here''s a personal note that Stephen Hofer sent with the 7 page report he did for my "Chestnut" fancy colored diamond.


RedDiamond004.jpg


Joker....
 
My family has visited the "Crater" several times. After countless hours of research
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, the sucess we shared was extremely rewarding. It''s very hard work, and takes great perserverance. However, it sure pays off
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when that 3/4 ct. dark brown crystal appeared on the top of my freshly washed gravel.
To date we have found several "Crater" diamonds. The smooth glassy appearance, allows them to be set in jewelry without ever seeing the cutters wheel.
Another great aspect of the "Crater", is the wonderful people you meet. Family vacationers, to treasure hunters. It''s a great atmosphere, where even the "Old timers" (whom coincidentally aren''t all old, I am 30) are willing to offer advice to find a diamond. We would all recommend this working vacation to anyone with a sense of adventure.
If your thinking of a trip to the "crater". Get a copy of : Genuine Diamonds in Arkansas, by: Glenn Worthington. We have found this book to be an invaluable resource. A very easy read, with many maps, and references. I feel it''s a must read for anyone considering diamond hunting at the "Crater".
We have found an excellent goldsmith locally to set most of our "crater" diamonds. Tom Kemp, a master bench jeweler, at Expert Jewelry Repair in Appleton, Wisconsin. Tom does very fine work, and enjoys working with these attention grabbing stones.
We currently have two loose "Crater" diamonds: 32 pt. brown, and 25 pt. brown, both great stones of gem quality. These diamonds will be offered for sale soon.
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there was another gal who came on here recently who found a fairly large yellow diamond there. she was asking for advice on how best to cut it to maximize the rough for re-sale. she got some good advice from the experts if i recall but i don''t remember her name.

anyway i remember reading about it and it sounded like it was pretty hit or miss on finding anything large enough for an engagement ring kind of thing, but that chances were good you could find some rough melee or something for fun. i don''t know that i''d schedule a trip there just for trying to find a stone or whatever but if i was ever in the area, sure i''d visit !! hehe.
 
I went last June, but didn''t find anyhting, there weren''t any diamonds found the day I was there, and only 1 found the day before. You probably won''t find one on your fist trip, but you never know. The waterpark area looks like it''d be a great place to cool off after an afternoon of digging, but we didn''t go to it.
 
I never thought I''d say it... but I think this Pacific Nothwestern girl might want to go to Arkansas for her honeymoon
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. It sounds like a great adventure. And the waterpark might be a nice plus to make it worthwile if I don''t find anything. Things like that can bring out the kid in all of us.
 
FWIW, the campground is one of the nicest we have been to. Level, paved park pads, hookups, some of the cleanest showers and plenty of hot water. Keep in mind though, the state bird is the mosquito, so bring lots of repellent.

We didn''t find anything either, and had driven from MD to there in one shot...so we were very tired.
 
I think I heard something about that on the Today show a while back...dont remember specifics. Sounds like fun. maybe we should all chip in on a bus...TRIP anyone??
 
OMG! I want to go there!!!
 
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