Arkansas Gem Hunter Unearths 6-Carat Diamond Worth Over $1M

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A Navy reservist from Missouri, Jack Pearadin, has unearthed a 6.03-carat yellow diamond in Crater of Diamonds State Park, located about 100 miles southwest of Little Rock. The discovery, made during a 13-year diamond hunting hobby, has sparked excitement among gem collectors, with some estimating its value could exceed $1 million.

Pearadin and his friend unearthed the diamond while shoveling gravel from the park, which was once a volcanic crater. After rinsing the gravel at his home workshop, the gem revealed itself, prompting Pearadin to exclaim, “Oh my God! Oh my God!” live-streaming the moment on TikTok.

The diamond, roughly the size of a fingernail, is the largest found at the park this year. Thousands of gem hunters visit the 37-acre state park annually, paying $15 per day to search for valuable minerals. While most finds are small and worth only a few hundred dollars, the park has a history of notable discoveries, including the 40.23-carat Uncle Sam, the largest diamond ever found in the U.S.

Historic Diamond Discoveries

The park has produced over 37,000 diamonds since it became a state park in 1972. Among the famous finds are the 16.37-carat Amarillo Starlight, the 15.33-carat Star of Arkansas, and the 8.52-carat Esperanza. The Uncle Sam diamond, which was cut and polished into a 12.42-carat gem, is now displayed at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

Pearadin, who moved to Murfreesboro to pursue his hobby, has named his newly discovered diamond the “American Dream.” He plans to split the profits with his fellow hunter, Michael Schumacher of Wisconsin, who helped in the excavation. A certified gem appraiser estimated the diamond’s value at around $250,000, though it could still be worth significantly more.

Natural diamonds are formed deep within the Earth under extreme heat and pressure, then brought to the surface through volcanic activity. They are often cloudy and oddly shaped, losing about a quarter of their weight when cut and polished. Pearadin’s discovery, while not the largest ever found, is a significant find for the park and its dedicated hunters.

Source: Breitbart

Written by

Ryan Wilson