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First half 2013 Crater Carats Report By Waymon Cox Greetings from Crater of Diamonds State Park! It’s hard to believe we’re already more than halfway through 2013. So far, more than 50,000 people have visited the Crater to search for their own diamonds this year! Park staff certified 303 diamonds by the end of June, including 160 white, 74 brown, and 69 yellow gems. During the same time last year, the park certified 272 diamonds. Arkansans registered 165 diamonds during the first half of 2013, while visitors from 27 other states, including Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin, registered 138 diamonds. Altogether, these gems weighed a total of 53.80 carats, compared to 49.55 carats registered from January to June last year. Though the average diamond weight during the first half of the year was a little under one-fifth of a carat, park staff certified eight diamonds weighing one carat or more, including a 2.10-carat brown gem found on April 5 that is the second-largest diamond found so far this year. While most diamonds were found by visitors who dug and sifted the soil, 32 were reported as being found right on the surface the park’s plowed diamond search area! We’ve shared many exciting stories of diamond finds with visitors this year and look forward to many more. Plan to visit Crater of Diamonds State Park and search for your own diamond this year, and perhaps your story will be one that we share in the months to come!
In other news, the final two bottles in this year's Prospectors' Treasure Hunt have been found! Clark Mims, of Bude, MS found Bottle #2 and won a genuine Crater diamond, a locket and necklace from Jeanine's Fine Jewelry in Nashville, a Bubba Keg from Murfreesboro Hardware, a jewelry box from Nashville Drug, a $20 gift card to Western Sizzlin', a free round of mini golf at Diamond-in-the-Hole, and a Fruit n' Yogurt certificate from McDonald's. Griffin Hall, of San Antonio, TX discovered Bottle #3 and won a depth finder from Futrell Marine, a candle from Nashville Flowers & Gifts, a photo album from Nashville Drug, a $20 gift card to Westen Sizzlin', a free round of mini golf at Diamond-in-the-Hole, and a Fruit n' Yogurt certificate from McDonald's. Portions of the search area are now plowed weekly.
Most recent significant precipitation: July 12, 2013 Diamond finds for the week of July 7, 2013 (100 points = one carat):
July 7 - Lee Ann Fontenot, De Quiney, LA, 82 pt. brown; Kyle Shelby, Kirby, AR, 27 pt. white; Adrienne Reed, Nashville, AR, 19 pt. yellow July 8 - Lisa Marenghi, Overland Park, KS, 13 pt. white July 9 - Dee Saldana, Murfreesboro, AR, 4 pt. white, 5 pt. white July 10 - Kenneth Shoemaker, Murfreesboro, AR, 6 pt. white July 13 - Larry Popwell & Ronny Autry, Farmerville, LA, 9 pt. white |
209 State Park Road
Murfreesboro, AR 71958
Email: craterofdiamonds@arkansas.com
Phone: (870) 285-3113
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