Fall special programs at the Crater of Diamonds State Park

 

By Margi Jenks

 

We have a busy schedule of special programs at the diamond mine for September and October. 

 

Great Crater Cleanup - Saturday, September 8^th, 1:00 - 4:00 PM, free and open to be public, meet at the park pavilion to sign up.  Our annual litter clean-up is in conjunction with the Great Arkansas Cleanup. Temporary geocaching stations will be set up to target particular areas of the park.  Following the event we will serve refreshments and hold prize drawings for all clean-up participants.  Groups, like Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops, are encouraged to attend.

 

Geology of the Crater and the Surrounding Area - Sunday, September 16^th, 1:00 -4:00 PM, $10.00 and open to the public, no pre-registration necessary, visitor center theater.  Join park geologist Margi Jenks and Arkansas Geological Survey geologist Doug Hansen for a closer look at the geology of the Crater volcano and the Murfreesboro-Nashville area.  The program includes presentations followed by field trips out on the diamond search area and by car to interesting sites in the area of the park.

 

Wire-wrap Jewelry Workshop - Saturday, September 22^nd, 2:00 - 4:00 PM, $30.00, open to the public, pre-registration required, Diamond Discovery Center classroom.  Interpreter Waymon Cox will demonstrate some free-form wire-wrapping techniques.  The registration fee includes a kit of mini-pliers, wire, and instructions to make a free-form pendant with tumbled Crater jasper. 

 

Visit with an Expert Diamond Miner - Saturday, September 29^th or October 6^th, 2:00 - 3:00 PM, free and open to the public, visitor center theater.  This popular program gives new diamond searchers a chance to talk with veteran diamond miners about their experiences and their favorite diamond search techniques.

 

Earth Science Day - Wednesday, October 3^rd, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM, free, for middle school earth science classes, pre-registration required, bring a picnic lunch.  Earth scientists working in the fields of weather forecasting, hydrology, soil science, and geology will give presentations about their work and careers. 

Fall Festival - Saturday, October 13^th, 3:00 - 9:00 PM, admission fee and open to the public.  This new event will pull out all the stops for a fun evening for the whole family.  The evening’s schedule will include hay rides, inflatable party rentals, food vendors, music, a dunking booth and climbing wall, and lots of children’s games.

 

Fall Photography in the Park Workshop - Saturday, October 20^th, 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM , $20.00, pre-registration required, Diamond Discovery Center classroom.  Interpreter Waymon Cox will share the basics of photography, as well as hints and tips that will help you take your own classic photographs.   Enjoy a day of creating your own Crater photo memories.

 

Search area last plowed:  August 24, 2012; Most recent significant rainstorms:  August 18, 2012

 

Total diamonds found in 2012: 344

 

Diamonds registered for August 19 - August 25, 2012 (100 points = 1 carat): 

 

August 19 - No diamonds were registered

 

August 20 - Cindy Ley, Green Bay, WI, 75 pt. yellow

 

August 21 - David Anderson, Murfreesboro, AR, 4 pt. white, 6 pt. yellow, 9 pt. brown, 10 pt. white, 11 pt. white; Patti Ham, Uvalde, TX, 3 pt. white

 

August 22 and 23 - No diamonds were registered

 

August 24 - Donald Laird, Everett, WA, 19 pt. white

 

August 25 - Brian Fetterman & Brittany Lax, Austin, TX, 19 pt. yellow