Diamond named “Heart of Arkansas” as a tribute to finder’s home state

  The largest diamond found so far in 2011 was certified earlier today at Crater of Diamonds State Park, in Murfreesboro.  Dubbed the Heart of Arkansas, the 3.86-carat white diamond is about the size of a piece of candy corn, with a triangular shape and a clear, pearly shine.

  The finder, a 46-year-old Murfreesboro resident, has found other diamonds before, but this is his largest, so far.  He found the diamond after digging a hole in the park’s 37 ½-acre diamond search area with two friends from Tampa, Florida.  While wet sifting his first bucket of dirt from the hole, he spotted the diamond amongst washed gravel in his screen.  Realizing what it was, he exclaimed “Thank God!”

  He brought the diamond in a clear plastic gem box to the park’s Diamond Discovery Center to have it registered.  According to Park Interpreter Waymon Cox, “For the finder, one of the most important aspects of registering his diamond was choosing the ‘perfect name’ for it.  After careful thought and discussion with myself and other park staff, he named it the Heart of Arkansas, as an homage to his home state and because of its shape.”

  The Heart of Arkansas Diamond was found in the East Drain of the diamond search area, the same area where this year’s second-largest diamond—the 2.44 ct. white Silver Moon—was found on March 20.  It is the largest Crater diamond registered since April 20, 2010, when a visitor from Diamond, Missouri discovered a 4.89 ct. white diamond he named the Ghost.  Another three-carat diamond, the 3.65 ct. brown Kings Mountain Pinnacle, was found in the East Drain last November by a visitor from North Carolina.

  The finder of the Heart of Arkansas Diamond wishes to remain anonymous at this time, but notes that perhaps the best experience surrounding this find was spending time with his friends at the park.  “They’re honest, Christian people.  When we dig, it’s not a competition.  There’s no envy, and it makes for a fun, relaxing time.”

  A total of 129 diamonds have been found at Crater of Diamonds State Park this year, 10 of which have weighed more than one carat.  The park remains open year-round, seven days a week, closing only on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.  Park interpreters regularly demonstrate diamond mining techniques and offer other special interest programs for visitors.  For more information, contact the park at 870-285-3113 or by e-mail at CraterofDiamonds@arkansas.com.  Or visit www.CraterofDiamondsStatePark.com.