I have had the pleasure of driving through the great state of Arkansas on more than a few occasions, but there is still one activity that I need to check off my list when it comes to that wonderful corner of our nation..
On March 4, Arkansas man David Anderson made a once in a lifetime discovery while visiting the Crater of Diamonds State Park.
While he was wet-sifting gravel from the West Drain of the park’s 37.5 diamond search area, Anderson spotted a 3.29-carat brown diamond.
This diamond is the largest found at the park since September 2021.
“At first I thought it was quartz but wondered why it was so shiny,” said Anderson. “Once I picked it up, I realized it was a diamond!”
Back in 2007, Anderson first learned about the park while watching The Travel Channel and now he is a regular visitor.
Reflecting on the past, Anderson stated, “My first trip here was in 2007. After I found my first diamond, a 1.5-carat white, I was hooked!”
Since his first trip over 16 years ago, Anderson has discovered more than 400 diamonds with 15 of them weighing more than one carat. He noted his other two top finds as a 3.83 yellow diamond discovered in December 2011 and a 6.19 carat white diamond found in April 2014.
The three most common colors of diamonds found at the park are white, brown and yellow.
Anderson named his newest discovery B.U.D. which stands for “Big, Ugly Diamond”, as the diamond has a pitted surface and brown color.
Anderson explained that he will typically sell the diamonds he finds locally, which is the case with B.U.D.
Park Interpreter Tayler Markham stated, “Mr. Anderson’s diamond is about the size of an English pea, with a light brown color and octahedron shape. It has a metallic shine typical of all diamonds found at the park, with a partially resorbed surface and lots of inclusions.”
In 2023 alone, over 124 diamonds have been registered at Crater of Diamonds State Park, with an average of 1-2 diamonds being discovered by park visitors each day.
