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At Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas, visitors can pay a $7 admission fee, grab a shovel and try their hand at diamond prospecting. The rule is "finders keepers." Over the past three years, annual visitation has tripled to 170,000, and in 2007 tourists pulled more than 1,000 precious stones from the ground. Some visitors use a special screen known as a seruca to wash and separate the heavier diamonds from the lighter debris. Others just get down on their hands and knees, squinting for jewels in the furrows. The 800-acre park holds out the hope, however slim, that just about anyone can strike it rich. Unfortunately, the park may also hold out a temptation for mineralogical mischief.
Eric Blake, a 33-year-old carpenter, has been coming to Crater of Diamonds two or three times a year ever since his grandfather first took him there when he was a teenager. In October 2007, his hard work finally paid off with the discovery of a whopping 3.9-carat stone—nearly the size of the site's Kahn Canary diamond that Hillary Clinton borrowed for her Arkansas-born husband's presidential inaugural galas. It's the kind of rare find that's spectacular enough to attract national attention. Blake reportedly spotted the elongate, white diamond along a trail just as he was plunking down a 70-pound bucket of mud and gravel he planned to sort through.
His lucky stone could be worth as much as $8,000—if he can prove it came from Arkansas soil. In the year since his discovery, fellow collectors, park officials and law enforcement officers have started wondering how Blake and his family uncovered an unprecedented 32 diamonds in less than a week.
"We have a concern of maintaining the integrity of not only the park, but the state of Arkansas," says park superintendent Tom Stolarz, who caught a glimpse of the diamond as Blake was packing to leave the park. Although Stolarz is not a geologist, he has been at the park for 26 years and has handled more than 10,000 diamonds, paying special attention to large stones. Blake's rough-hewn gem was certainly a diamond to Stolarz's eyes, but was it an American diamond?
The answer is more important than one might think. Diamonds are merely crystallized carbon and today they can be created economically in a lab. But the stones fascinate people; the National Museum of Natural History's diamond exhibit, featuring the Hope Diamond, is one of the most popular destinations in the Smithsonian Institution. For many diamond buyers, history buffs and a quirky subculture of dedicated diamond hunters, provenance is everything.
Diamonds were discovered in Arkansas in August 1906, when a farmer named John Wesley Huddleston found a "glittering pebble" on his property. The next year the New York Times described "Diamond John's" treasure in epic terms: "The story of the discovery of diamond fields in one of the poorest counties of the not over-rich State of Arkansas reads like a chapter of Sinbad's adventures."
More than 10,000 dreamers flocked to nearby Murfreesboro, filling up the ramshackle Conway Hotel and striking up a tent city between town and the diamond field. It was not an easy life, says Mike Howard of the Arkansas Geological Survey. "Many people came, few people found," he says. "Most were gone within a couple of years." The majority of Arkansas diamonds, then as now, come in at under ten points, or about 1/10th of a carat. But in 1924, one lucky miner pulled a 40-carat monster out of the ground. Christened Uncle Sam, it remains the largest diamond ever discovered in the United States and a twinkle in every miner's eye.
A lot of funny business has gone on around the diamond field over the past century. After failing to gain full control of the area in 1910, the London-based Diamond Syndicate allegedly set up a sham operation to downplay the mine's potential and sabotage production, according to a Justice Department investigation. In 1919, two rival processing plants burned to the ground on the same January night, fueling rumors that someone was out to destroy the mine's profitability. In the late 1920s, Henry Ford was set to buy Arkansas industrial diamonds for his assembly lines, but the Diamond Syndicate and De Beers bribed the mine's owner to keep it out of commission. Shenanigans continued into the 1950s, when, for instance, an entrepreneur trucked some gravel from the diamond field to his own five acres north of town and plunked down a sign claiming he had a diamond mine. Locals found him beaten up in a ditch the next morning, according to a story one Arkansas geologist has told over the years.
The state of Arkansas purchased Huddleston's former property in 1972 and established Crater of Diamonds State Park, but that wasn't enough to ensure the site's integrity. According to the book Glitter & Greed by Janine Roberts, mining companies tried, and failed, to get legislation passed to open the park up for commercial exploration. By the mid-1980s, several companies were running aerial magnetic surveys to hunt for undiscovered pipes of diamond-rich rock outside the park's boundaries. "It was something else," says Howard, who recalls seeing their helicopters in motel parking lots. They identified one new pipe, but it was far too small to be worth exploiting.
In 1987, then-governor Bill Clinton put together a controversial task force to explore the Crater's commercial mining prospects. One diamond executive estimated it could hold diamonds worth $5 billion. The Sierra Club, the Arkansas Wildlife Federation and Friends of Crater of Diamonds State Park fought unsuccessfully in federal court to halt the plans. By 1992, exploratory drilling was approved—with environmental caveats—and geologist Howard was assigned to keep abreast of the work being conducted by four mining companies. If the drilling had been successful, tourists would have been barred from the main pipe itself, although rock and debris would have been set aside for them to root through, and they could have toured the processing plant. Some locals were miffed; others looked forward to the estimated 800 jobs mining could bring to the economically depressed region.
But after they processed 8,000 tons of rock, diamonds proved too rare to make the scheme profitable. The miners packed up their processing plant and shipped it to Canada. Their drilling cores, however, provided geologists with the first extensive maps of the diamond-bearing cone of lamproite rock. "Being a scientist, I wanted to have that information," says Howard. The surface area of the diamond field is 83 acres, and the cone funnels to a point some 700 feet below, making it the tenth-largest cone known in the world. Howard says it's shaped like a martini glass.
Arkansas diamonds originally formed more than three billion years ago under intense heat and pressure some 60 to 100 miles below the earth's surface. Then, about 100 million years ago, a giant gas bubble formed in the earth's roiling magma and shot up to the surface at 60 to 80 miles per hour, pulling diamonds and other material with it before launching into the air and raining debris back down. Some 60 to 80 percent of the diamonds forced to the surface were probably destroyed during this violent process. The park contains the largest cone, but five others—covering just a few acres each—are also in the area.
Though the diamonds could not support a commercial operation, there is still room for profit. Arkansas diamonds fetch about ten times more per carat than comparable stones, largely because collectors value the diamonds' American provenance and unique character. Many of the stones are smooth and rounded like a drop of glass, and they are among the hardest in the world. They come in three colors: white, yellow and brown. There's practically no other major mine in the world with stones that could pass for Arkansas natives, except maybe the Panna mines in India. (The similarity among the two sites' stones is likely to be skin-deep, says Howard, although no one has documented the trace elements that could be used to fingerprint Arkansas diamonds.) If Blake's 3.9-carat stone were an import, it wouldn't net more than several hundred dollars. The rest of his stones would fetch far less.
When park superintendent Stolarz saw Blake's diamond, he suggested Blake show it to Howard at the Arkansas Geological Survey. Howard was on vacation but made a special trip to his Little Rock office when he got the call about the big diamond. But Blake, who was driving back to Wisconsin with his fiancée and her daughter and sister, never showed up. Howard called Blake's cell phone again and again to no avail. He reached Blake a few days later, and Blake explained that he "had a flat tire and didn't have time to come by," Howard recalls.
A few weeks later, photographs of Blake's stones popped up on eBay and Blake's own Web site, Arkansas Diamond Jewelry.
When word of Blake's finds reached the Murfreesboro Miner's Camp, a trailer park and campground that hosts a population of good-natured diamond hunters, people were a tinge jealous. And suspicious. "I was like 'Jeez!'" says Denis Tyrell, 49-year-old licensed handyman who says he has made a living digging diamonds for the last 18 months. "You don't just come here, pick a spot, find 40 diamonds, and say 'I'll see you next year!'" It took Tyrell ten days to find his first diamond when he arrived at the park in June 2006. His personal best rate has been 38 diamonds in 31 days, a record he achieved in October 2008.
For all their suspicions, there was no evidence of wrongdoing. Then a fossil and mineral dealer named Yinan Wang noticed something strange. In September 2007, he had purchased one of Blake's smaller diamonds for $200. That December, Wang was interested in doing business with an Indian dealer named Malay Hirani. Wang asked Hirani to share a copy of a recent Kimberley Process Certificate, which would ensure that his rough diamonds were not the so-called blood diamonds traded by warlords in Africa and would verify that Hirani had previously done business in the United States. By chance, the certificate Hirani copied for Wang had come from an order Hirani had sent to Blake. Wang—simply sizing up his potential business partner—decided to ask Blake if Hirani was trustworthy. To his surprise, Blake denied the connection: All our diamonds are from the U.S., he said, according to Wang.
Wang didn't think much about the incident until March 2008. He was chatting with Hirani about sources for rough diamonds, and Wang mentioned Blake's Web site. The dealer looked at it and immediately thought he recognized some of Blake's jewels as his own. "I realized I had stumbled on something relatively big," Wang says. Hirani shared his receipts, shipping confirmation numbers, and photographs with Wang, and the duo later tracked the 3.9-carat diamond to another source, they say: a Belgian dealer named Philippe Klapholz. Tipped off by Wang, who was operating under the alias "Hal Guyot," the Web site Fakeminerals.com spelled out the alleged fraud.
If Blake really did plant foreign diamonds in Arkansas soil, was it a crime? Pike County Sheriff Preston Glenn is investigating Blake and expects to complete his work in early 2009, but says it would be up to the prosecuting attorney to determine what charges, if any, to pursue. In the meantime, officials say that Blake has agreed not to return to Crater of Diamonds State Park.
Blake says he has done nothing wrong and simply posted the wrong photos on his site. "A couple of diamonds were in question, but nobody has proven anything," he says.
One Friday afternoon this past August, the diamond hunter Tyrell finally had his own lucky strike—he pulled a 4.42-carat stone out of the ground. For a while, it seemed, Blake's alleged chicanery was no longer the talk of Murfreesboro. It was Tyrell's big day, and no one around there doubts that Tyrell's stone is legitimate. Stolarz sees him out in the park nearly every day, sorting through pebbles and taking samples home to examine come nightfall.
Author Bio: Brendan Borrell wrote about Cassowaries, the world's most dangerous bird, in the October 2008 issue of Smithsonian magazine
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Comments (145)
I dont agree with all of that! <>
Posted by Adam Hardin on January 3,2013 | 10:04 PM
We got diamond fever last year when we first visited the Crater in the fall. We spent five days surface searching and digging small holes, then washing our pretty rocks at the sluicing station. We didn't find a diamond on that first go-round, but after meeting some of the local diamond diggers and watching how they work, we decided to get serious if we ever did it again. Six months later, we're back at the Crater, this time serious as a heart attack for six weeks of digging. We found our first 13 pt white diamond that time...five weeks and over 200 buckets of dirt later. Still didn't cure the fever in spite of the aches and pains and exhaustion. (Hot Springs Bath Spas take care of that quite well;-) We're back again with two weeks left in our month of digging. We found two little diamonds last week: another 13 pt light brown and a 2pt (Hope Diamond for Barbie). We do love the area, the Crater, the people are pretty awesome and the local miners that have been doing this for decades still tell great stories of finding big beauties ....and losing a few too. What brings us back isn't necessarily the diamonds we find in the dirt, but the diamonds we find in the hearts of the people of Murfreesboro, Arkansas. Bring your kids after a heavy rain on a sunny day....and wear mud boots.
Posted by OWC on October 20,2012 | 09:48 PM
My family and i took a trip to the park when i was young"in the early 80's".i can remember having a good time,tho we didnt find a diamond. I plan to bring my family there in about a week,and im making my own sifter,and everything else i think ill need.wish me luck,ill check back in when i get back and let ya know how it went.
Posted by Steve Hale on June 9,2012 | 02:43 PM
I FORGOT TO MENTION IN MY FIRST COMMENT THAT WE DROVE UP TO THE DIAMOND MINE YEARLY FROM SE TEXAS, A GOOD LITTLE DRIVE. I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT ONE WEEKEND I WAS THERE, A MAN FOUND A YELLOW DIAMOND WORTH $3,000 AND IT WAS EXCITING TO SEE IT. HE HAD DUG ABOUT THREE FEET DOWN INTO THE GROUND AND THAT IS USUALLY WHERE MOST PEOPLE FOUND THE DIAMONDS. VERY EXCITING AND REWARDING PLACE TO BE.
HAPPY HUNTING.
Posted by JANE BERRYMAN on March 21,2011 | 02:28 PM
SAVING THE DIAMOND MINE IS THE ONLY CAUSE I EVER GOT INVOLVED IN. LAWYERS DONATED THEIR TIME. REASON, THE STATE DECIDED TO START MINING THE DIAMONDS AGAIN AND WE DIDN'T WANT THE PARK DESTROYED WITH BIG EQUIPMENT. EVEN WITH ALL OUR EFFORTS AND DONATIONS, THE STATE WON OUT BUT THE PARK IS SO BIG, THAT THE AREA WHERE WE DUG FOR DIAMONDS IS STILL THERE AND WASN'T BOTHERED. I AM 71 NOW AND THIS WAS WHEN I WAS 50, SO APPROX 21 YRS AGO. I ALWAYS THOUGHT I WOULD RETIRED IN MURPHREESBORO, AR SO I COULD GO TO LOOK FOR DIAMONDS EVERY DAY. HOWEVER, ARTHRITIS CHANGED MY MIND AND I WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. I HOPE SOMEDAY TO RETURN TO THE MINE AND DO A LITTLE DIGGING. GREAT PLACE TO GET DIRTY AND LOSE YOUR STRESS AND TAKE THE GRANDKIDS AND THEY HAD A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING WHY WE WERE DIGGING AND WALLOWING IN THE DIRT...BIG PEOPLE IN THE DIRT. LOL
Posted by JANE BERRYMAN on March 21,2011 | 02:26 PM
Hey ya'll
I live in arkansas and have been to the mine several times.
I havn't found any diamonds so far but, who knows, I may someday. I did find a perfectly formed fossilized peach pit and some pretty minerals. It's a great place to get some fresh air, some exercise and to destress. I've met people from as far as India there. The summer days can be pretty hot, especially in August. They say that the best time to find diamonds is after a hard rain and when the sun is shining, I tried that and was shocked to find my self stuck in the mud up to and over my knees..Huh I probably will go again someday with my grand children. It is great fun for kid's and growmups and you can even bring your dogs if they are leashed.
well, good luck, and come to arkansas. Maybe you will find a diamond, maybe you won't, You may only have good memories, to take back home with you of the day you came to the Arkansas Diamond Mine to play in the dirt. The diamonds are there and can be found. The mine is over an ancient volcano. The soil is a greenish material called Lamproite, and is many miles deep. I don't think the diamonds will run out any time soon. If that man did bring in diamonds from another source it should be pretty easy to detect because on the hardness scale Arkansas diamonds rate eleven, where most other diamonds rate ten on the Moh's scale.
Posted by nancy parker on September 15,2009 | 09:34 PM
I am interested in learning more about the background of Crater of Diamonds State Park, as I have visited the Park a few times and I have an interest in history. This interesting article helps me by adding a fuller view of the Park.
I met Shirley Strawn, today. She is such a nice, approachable woman, very down-to-earth. As an amateur historian, meeting such people is like finding a diamond. I could not have been happier if I had found a diamond.
Posted by Richard Alexander on April 12,2009 | 10:45 PM
My family settled in Pike County, Arkansas before the Civil War and I've hunted diamonds at the park for fifty years. I hope that if this individual planted a diamond that he is prosecuted to the fullest, whether in Pike County on criminal charges or somewhere else in civil court. Crater of Diamonds is one of the best kept secrets in the country, though there are aspects of that I find comforting. The Eric Blakes of the world can stay away. The diamond mine is a place to dig in the dirt and be a kid no matter how old you are. Someday I might find my diamond, but I continue to go for the magic.
Posted by Vanessa on March 27,2009 | 09:41 PM
I have been to the park on my way to crystal dig.I did have fun and didn't even find any diamonds. I will definetly go back to the mine and to hunt for crystals. I reccomend to all to go dig crystals! Late March, April, or May is a great time to go.
Posted by Lesa on February 26,2009 | 09:10 PM
My family owned the Crater of Diamonds until they sold it in the 1970's. I am glad the State has kept it going and has made it a first class state park. I am proud that it is still a reputable place that people can find real diamonds that are native to that diamond pipe. We couldn't afford to invest in all the great buildings. I lived there from the time I was eight and my Dad owned it with his father from the 1920's. I am writing a book about my wonderful, exciting years at the Mine. Margaret Millar Dawson
Posted by Margaret Dawson on February 11,2009 | 07:27 PM
My husband and I enjoyed going to Crater of Diamonds. After 3 years of digging we still did not find any. One afternoon i was setting under the shade of a gorgeous tree and asked my father (he passed away) to please help me find at least 1ct of diamond. As the story goes, we did not find any. We were too tired and went back to our RV just to find a little kitten setting on our stairs. She looked very skinny and we knew we have to take care of her. it was then that i realized that maybe that was my reward from heaven and we named her Diamond. We took her home and took care of her and now she is very healthy and as loving as can be. We have found our 4 legged Diamond and we could not ask for more. So far, we have rescued 4 cats just by going to diffferent parks and we love them all. Crater of Diamonds is one of the best parks to go in Arkansas. Posted by Perla Baker - Sherwood Arkansas
Posted by Perla Baker on February 6,2009 | 08:54 AM
The likelyhood of pulling out a 3.8 dimond on your frist day is like 1 to1111100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Posted by Rose Millar on January 26,2009 | 01:41 PM
"he just could have gotten a big diamond and smashed it Posted by eeeeeemma on January 14,2009 | 06:41PM" So, he took the hardest mineral on Earth and just smashed it? Wow, really? He's one strong guy, huh?
Posted by Maria on January 25,2009 | 10:49 PM
JUST REMEMBER" DIAMONDS ARE GIRLS BEST FRIEND" !!!!!
Posted by JIM on January 25,2009 | 06:58 PM
We went to the park, Grandma, Grandpa, Wife and 4 year old son. 18 Diamonds were posted as being found the day we were there. We saw about 80 people having fun. I chatted with one of the semi-professional miners there and they worked hard every day. One gentleman was there for 17 months every day and basically I figured out he averaged at least on diamond every 2 - 3 days. I went through 18 buckets of dirt and came up empty handed. We went back a second day for 1/2 the day. It rained the night before. The field was sparkling in the sun with all type of shiny rocks and pebbles. The mud was deep so bring calf high boots. The experience was a lot of fun and I would go again. The photos of the family outing are the real treasure!
Posted by Clayton on January 25,2009 | 10:23 AM
FOR REAL FUN TAKE 6 KIDS ALL UNDER TEN TO THE PARK THE DAY AFTER A REAL BAD STORM. REMEMBER THE CRATER IS MOSTLY CLAY. NEVER LAUGHED SO MUCH IN MY LIFE. GLAD THEY HAD A HOSE AVAILABLE AND WE HAD EXTRA CLOTHES. OH WE DID FIND A 'DIAMOND' ALL CUT AND POLISHED AND EVERYTHING. LUCKY THE KID COULDNT SPELL CUBIC ZARCONIUM
Posted by magus47 on January 24,2009 | 04:11 PM
Just as a matter of interest : a commerical diamond mining was begun about 10 years ago, just north of Ft. Collins , CO. This mine is not open to the public , but the operators do allow tours by geology students for local colleges and universities .
Posted by John on January 24,2009 | 02:57 PM
This is for the person asking directions to The Crater Of Diamonds State Park and the cost of lodging. MapQuest from where you are to the State Park. When I was there I made the Royal Oak Inn on highway 270 in Mount Ida, AR my base. Patty Ward was the owner at the time. She is typical Arkansas LADY. She made us feel as if we were family just visiting. Very helpful and generous. Very reasonable cost. Not The Hampton but very clean and comfortable, in driving distance to many CRYSTAL mines and other sites. Great fishing as well. Tell Patty Elaine in Florida said "hi".
Posted by elaine on January 23,2009 | 12:32 PM
whilst i think that anything is possible...somthing that is this improbable hat has evidance against it is probably not true
Posted by pubes on January 21,2009 | 04:00 PM
I have been there twice,researched it surveyed it,and read everything in print about it. Forget all that, just look on the ground and dig in the dirt. It is so simple its refreshing.You get to meet a lot of nice people and hear alot of great stories. True or not, who cares,its simple entertainment E. O. T.
Posted by Everett Tribbett on January 16,2009 | 08:39 AM
I haven't taken my children for years, stayed in a nice little place in town. My children still talk of our times went spent together "going to get rich" we are rich. My Von is almost 30, my son Michael is 20 and my daughter, Tonya is 26. We are rich in memories and quality time just digging in the "dirt". Memories like, mom! look I found one!, to digging in a hole you dug yourself waist high. It is a real place and when you walk to the mine area you can see the different coloration of the earth. Don't let people take away what is real. Go take your family, friends or go by yourself. You may not find a diamond, I promise, you will find something, I found wonderful memories. I will be going back soon, who knows you may read about me one day. There is a diamond there, will you find it before me? Good Luck, Diane
Posted by diane on January 15,2009 | 10:12 PM
Are diamonds found alone or in clusters like many other gem stones?
Posted by 1 old goat on January 15,2009 | 03:40 PM
can you imagine how much money this park is making? forget the diamonds, tell people they can find diamonds wherever, and you've struck it rich right there.
Posted by thisdude on January 15,2009 | 10:45 AM
My family and I travelled cross country by RV a couple of years ago. My son saw craters of diamonds on the travel channel and wanted to go. It's out of the way, but we went. It was really a fun thing to do the with the kids. The campground is really great and believe it or not there's a fabulous pool with water activites (not deeper than 3 feet, but it was so hot my husband and I just sat in the pool for over a 1/2 hour just cooling off after our day of diamond digging!) The diamond digging was fun too - although no diamonds. We had fun joking about it. Although it's out of the way, I'd recommend it to anyone, can't say you went mining for diamonds everyday!
Posted by donna on January 15,2009 | 08:25 AM
Thank you Mr.Brendan Borrell Nice article, I wish one day I would also try my luck in this park, seems very interesting way to find diamonds :)
Posted by Malay Hirani on January 15,2009 | 07:24 AM
To Sergey: "Fundamental(ist) plans" are not carried out by liberals. It's the conservatives, the right-wingers, the "moral majority" evangelicals that deny evolution and claim that the earth is only 6,000 years old who are the fundamentalists and are thus the ones carrying out the plans of the NWO. To Murfreesboro Native: Your criticism of the author is misguided. So what if the conway hotel has been closed for a long time? It is only mentioned historically in the article, so unless it was actually closed BEFORE 1906, your complaint is invalid.
Posted by Gary In Tucson on January 14,2009 | 01:24 AM
Diamonds are forever... For me, diamonds are my love ones. But they don't live long... Just take a look around you and they are everywhere... talking about $10 per point?.... maybe its nice to have diamond hunting... with your love ones. just want to add my diamonds. Cool huh.
Posted by Ernie on January 14,2009 | 01:08 AM
I see the Diamond Mine as a chance for people to work together and enjoy nature. I really enjoyed reading the lovely blogs above and will always remember the Kinder ones as we need to be more Human and not so distrusting about those whom may have had good fortune at the Diamond Field! I hope everybody finds thousands of Diamonds there and everyone that goes there gets wealthy! Good Hunting is all I have to say, Doc. Bennett
Posted by Jerry Bennett on January 14,2009 | 01:06 AM
We happened upon crater park on our vacation this summer. We went in with no expectations and the whole family had a great time. The admission price is reasonable. The cost to rent a bucket shovel and a metal screen kit was also reasonable and well worth the cost. It really was a fun experience. They also have a very nice water park designed for younger kids and a campsite for anything from a tent to an RV.
Posted by paul on January 14,2009 | 12:50 AM
IF THIS GUY FOUND ALL THOSE DIAMONDS IN A SHORT TIME, GOOD FOR HIM, IF HE DIDNT AND ITS A SCAM, HE WILL GET HIS
Posted by LORI on January 14,2009 | 12:21 AM
Talk about fun? I'd rather be dancing and dinning or at the opera. Diamonds and opera both make me cry. But who found a diamond? Me. .75 and I'm keeping it! I'm still crying intermittently with joy! I'll hold my "chip" and pounce for opera tickets! Life is a hidden joy! And now I can show disbelievers the key to good opera seats is fortune found by shear dumb luck!
Posted by Jenna on January 14,2009 | 12:17 AM
Man that sounds so stupid, picking up 32 diamonds in less than a week. What a rip!
Posted by Jessie on January 14,2009 | 12:14 AM
Someone may have said this already, but I didn't have time to read all of the comments. The penny is to show the relative size of the diamond. Also, Janine G, my husband was in the navy & served on the Enterprise, too!
Posted by Meaghan on January 14,2009 | 12:14 AM
salted from day 1?
Posted by Joseph on January 14,2009 | 12:13 AM
now thats what i call a party favor...
Posted by christina on January 14,2009 | 12:09 AM
man one of these days i'm going to go there and strike it rich my self. Also, if i find over 10k worth i will give at least 2,000 dollars to the cancer research foundation
Posted by christian on January 14,2009 | 12:01 AM
Hmmm...I think I'd have better luck at taking seven dollars to the casino and hitting on a slot machine than I would at finding a measely diamond. After it cost me a bunch in gas to drive 850 miles plus the cost of food and hotel fees,I'd probably walk away from the site with nothing but muddy clothes. I'll let someone else waste their time digging.
Posted by iloveemeralds on January 14,2009 | 11:59 PM
Murfreesboro native.....I would have to say that the Author did a fine job of researching this story. You probably just need to do a better job of paying attention. The Author was referring to The Conway Hotel in relation to the years in and around 1906. I would imagine that those were NOT the "several years" that you lived there, due to that being 103 years ago! No where in the article does it refer to that Hotel being "the place" to stay. I doubt there is "a tent city" still standing either! I can't wait to visit!
Posted by Mama Stacy on January 14,2009 | 11:54 PM
"Its too bad the earth is not "billions" of years old." Posted by Sergey well just to let u know the earth is 4.6 Billion years old really humans have on been on earth for a bout (learned this in science) The clock has 12 hours and 60 mins in 1 hour and 60 seconds in one min NOW humans only make up of 1 second of Earths history on a clock out of 24 hours
Posted by Jake on January 14,2009 | 11:52 PM
This is to Kevin Hatfield. My Husbands mother is a Hatfield, of the Hatfields & Mccoys. Is that your ancestors also? Where are you from? Might be related! Our relatives ( Frederick Hatfield) Homesteaded in Swan Valley Idaho . Marcella
Posted by Marcella on January 14,2009 | 11:51 PM
As a life long resident of Arkansas, I must say that the perception of Arkansans being toothless and cousin marrying is totally stupid on the part of the one who said it earlier. Anyone who has even visited this state knows that Arkansans are some of the friendliest people in the country. We are sick and tired of the stereotypes. OK. Enough time has been wasted on this ignorance. I live in the small community of Daisy where I own a restaurant. It is located about 20 miles from the park on Lake Greeson. I try to get to the Diamond Mine at least once per month. I have found a few diamonds, but none have been very large. .35 carat is the largest I have found. I enjoy the this area. We have great fishing, boating, skiing, and swimming...and mining. We also have some great dining here too.
Posted by Paul Doster on January 14,2009 | 11:50 PM
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Posted by Meghan on January 14,2009 | 11:49 PM
Wow, I dont know what to believe...If that guy realy did pull out 32 diamonds out of the ground thats just really hard to believe. Plus what are the chances anyone could even found 1 diamond??? i think this is somewhat real and somewhat fake. dont no what to say...even though this article makes me wanna dig for damonds...but just for the fun of it and hopefully maybe i would find one =D
Posted by ryan on January 14,2009 | 11:48 PM
Wow! how amazing this is I believe that they should leave this man alone he was just amazing enough && lucky enough to find something soooo GREAT! =))
Posted by Rachel=) on January 14,2009 | 11:47 PM
I am sorry about your mom Janine just thing about the good times and keep your dad company GOD BLESS YOU
Posted by lupita palafox on January 14,2009 | 11:46 PM
I was reading some of the comments and I was AMAZED by the number of people who had something negative to say.. People, in general, need to learn to NOT jump to conclusion before they know they WHOLE story.. In other words read ALL of the article before you comment... and if you still don't get the idea of it.. well then either get some more education on how to comprehend what your reading better, or don't say anything at all!
Posted by Barbara A Jones on January 14,2009 | 11:43 PM
Many of you have cute stories....It sounds like this could be a fun afternoon with family and friends even if you don't find diamonds. I'm in Virginia and will go there to visit one of these years.
Posted by Liz on January 14,2009 | 11:41 PM
There is always a diamond in our family.so treasure it!
Posted by Tom on January 14,2009 | 11:39 PM
Well:I found a half caret diamond,no flaws,perfect stone ,APPRAISED AT $5,000.00 at Aladdins in 2001 on the floor in front of a slot machine.If the man has the luck ,god bless him .If the diamonds are blood diamonds or fakes ,he'll get caught sooner or later.
Posted by Joseph morehouse on January 14,2009 | 11:34 PM
wow you could actually find stones in that place...that is so cool...i want to go ^_^
Posted by mary on January 14,2009 | 11:34 PM
janine, i feel that same way about diamonds. i cherish the wedding set that my husband bought for me. it is not the largest or the smallest but it is just perfect for me and my memories. i love they way it looks in the sun and i love that it is durable enough to withstand the abuse i put through if something were to happen to it i would be truly heartbroken, nothing can replace the memories a marriage has seen, nothing. thanks for sharing your story with everyone.
Posted by nichole on January 14,2009 | 11:33 PM
Henry, Bob, and Bill are hilarious. Loved your comments. Adore your sense of humor. Keep it up. LMAO! Could eveyone please stop trying to explain why the penny is in the hand? If they didn't get the answer the first time then we all know why they even asked the question. I visited when I was a child, think it's time to return! :)
Posted by Renee on January 14,2009 | 11:30 PM
One also has to remember that when you cut a stone, you lose from 30% to 50% of the rough weight, so, for instance, a 3 carat piece of rough might only yield a 1.3 cut diamond. Even smaller if there is a big flaw they have to cut around.
Posted by Veegee on January 14,2009 | 11:30 PM
I'm thinking to go there when is good time of there year to go there ? how much the night will cost at the hotel?
Posted by Mariam on January 14,2009 | 11:26 PM
Janine Guevara, what a beautiful story! Wear your mothers ring with pride as I am sure she would have wanted you to have it too, and pass it on to your kids! Thanks for the story.
Posted by Veegee on January 14,2009 | 11:26 PM
More power to him.Prospecting that long he deserves it.It usualy takes a lot of dedication and many shovels to get lucky. Just ask Shirley Strawn how many shovels of dirt and serucas she went through before she found the "BIG ONE".
Posted by Daniel on January 14,2009 | 11:25 PM
You all need to get off his case. The people complaining about his find are simply jealous. Who cares if he planted a diamond. He has not profited from this. His find has brought more publicity for the park and has not hurt its reputation.
Posted by Jimmy on January 14,2009 | 11:09 PM
I have been to the mine 3 times now. So far nothing and as some have said, you can look for weeks or longer and not find a thing, yet some have walked in bent over and there it is. While luck plays a big factor, the key is it is down right "FUN". I dont know if it is the thrill that you might find something, or just playing in dirt and mud, lol. If you have not gone. Go even if to just enjoy the experience.
Posted by Rocky on January 14,2009 | 11:06 PM
I have also been to the diamond mine in Arkansas. If any one is planning to go just a few words of advice don't go in the summer time. We did and it did get very hot in that area.They did tell visitors of heat in the summer days. Other than that it was fun if you like being in dirt all day.
Posted by AmyBeth on January 14,2009 | 10:59 PM
Well: 1. Blake's denial of a connection to India certainly is suspicious. However: 2. People do like to reuse photos when selling things - anyone should take a gander at eBay if they doubt me. So, I don't know.
Posted by God on January 14,2009 | 10:58 PM
I say leave that guy who found all those diamonds alone, he took the time to look for them. If he took the time, he earned them. I've carved walrus ivory and fossil whalebone since 1984. Most of the time it's been hard work, and I sold most of my stuff with tears because no one paid the price for them. You have to look at the blood and sweat behind all those hours to appreciate what one has put into something.
Posted by twilly gosuk on January 14,2009 | 10:57 PM
I would rather have the penny, diamonds are worthless. if everyone knew about debeers, and what they do, you wouldnt pay for one either. if debeers let go of all their diamonds, your 3 carat ring wouldnt be worth a quarter
Posted by jeff beatrice on January 14,2009 | 10:54 PM
Awesome Janine! Tears everywhere. Truly special. Thank you.
Posted by rleigh23 on January 14,2009 | 10:52 PM
I had visited the diamond mine 1 day on vacation my mother and i thought it would be a good day for my two girls who were 5 and 6 to have fun in the dirt. that day a bus load of kids were having an outing from summer school and i just could not believe one of the 9 years old boy found a diamond we had been there all day and nothing this boy found one in less than 30 minutes i thought it was awesome
Posted by trish alsdurf on January 14,2009 | 10:51 PM
i hope i live in arkansas to try my luck, but sad to say i live on the other side of the earth...Philippines.
Posted by girlie on January 14,2009 | 10:46 PM
Yeah well, I found 35 diamonds there in a week!
Posted by Johnny Boyd on January 14,2009 | 10:43 PM
8,000 only? i thought they would b worth more.
Posted by Kitty Buoy on January 14,2009 | 10:41 PM
Kendall, my name too is Kendall. However, unlike you, I know the answer to your question. The penny provides a general source of size reference--everyone knows how big a penny is. Because everyone is familiar with the size of a penny, the general size of the diamond is easier to estimate in a photograph. If it was only the diamond, and no source of size refernce, the diamond could be of any dimension depending on the size and/or scle of the photo. I hope that helps.
Posted by Kendall (a different Kendall) on January 14,2009 | 10:35 PM
The diamond mine is a wonderful place where we take our students to experience something that is unique to Arkansas. Everyone I know who has found diamonds has found very small ones, but it isn't the size of the diamond that matters to our students, it is the experience. We also have Hot Springs and the Clinton Library, so come on down and pay our state a visit!
Posted by Mrs. Weathers on January 14,2009 | 10:33 PM
I went there and all I found was a bunch of mud, but it was fun for the kids. Anything is possible.
Posted by JoAnne on January 14,2009 | 10:32 PM
Kendall, the penny is to give you a known object to compare the size of the diamond to. As you can see, the diamond is one quarter of the size of the penny.
Posted by Frank Black on January 14,2009 | 10:26 PM
wonder if i can train a dog to smell diamonds ? ;)
Posted by Les on January 14,2009 | 10:19 PM
gosh... can you believe it? just spent 7$ for the entrance then go home with 8000$ in your pocket... wish i could go to Arkansas...
Posted by andy on January 14,2009 | 10:17 PM
I, myself, have visited the same diamond mine. I discovered a 51 point white diamond without even digging a hole in the ground. I was out taking pictures of my first diamond hunt location and there it was, lying on the ground. Took it up to be certified and a young girl at the age of 11 found a 1.26 carrot white diamond the same day. So, it is not hard if you want to take the drive. White rough diamonds go for about $10 a point. 51 points is $510. Not to shabby...
Posted by Derek on January 14,2009 | 10:16 PM
I reccomend not going in summer, it is soooo hot and there are snakes, its a fun trip though when the weather is nice, whether or not you find a diamind
Posted by nina on January 14,2009 | 10:13 PM
I went there with my little gile we didn't find anything but dirt but she sure had a lot of fun.
Posted by adri on January 14,2009 | 10:11 PM
wow i would to visit there one day with my grand kids.and as people say good things come to those who wait.
Posted by jamie on January 14,2009 | 10:08 PM
It could happen. I don't really think he counterfeited them cuz I'm thinking it would actually cost more to make a fake one than what it'd be worth. I don't know. We'll have to see what the authorities come up with I guess!
Posted by Norene on January 14,2009 | 10:06 PM
Not only did I find a Diamond at our local beach here in San Diego, But it already had a ring on it. Bill
Posted by Bill Sewing on January 14,2009 | 10:00 PM
Diamonds are a girls best friend and ..... but too many have died in the process. almost as bad as drugs. Diamond park is a super place to take the kids. My memories will be always remembered. No diamonds, but a great time. These diamonds are free and no one dies mining them just so someone can have one on their finger. ALWAYS ASK WHERE YOUR DIAMONDS WERE MINED. I would think the jeweler should be able to tell you.
Posted by raymond on January 14,2009 | 10:00 PM
i live in arkansas!!
Posted by ecila on January 14,2009 | 09:59 PM
janine, that was/is a beautiful story.GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR PARENTS. I TOO LOST MY STEP FATHER THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING (2007)TO ALZHIMERS.SO I KNOW THE PAIN OF LOSING A LOVED ONE SO SLOWLY. MY MOTHER AND I BOTH WEAR DIAMONDS ON MOST OF OUR FINGERS AND ALTHOUGH THEY EACH HAVE VALUE AND SENTIMENT, RECALLING THE TIMES THROUGHOUT MY LIFE THAT THEY WERE GIVEN TO ME MEANS MUCH MORE THAN THE MONETARY VALUE. YOUR FATHER SOUNDS LIKE A TRUE GEM. PLEASE TELL HIM I THINK HIS WIFE IS A VERY LUCKY WOMAN TO HAVE THAT MEASURE OF LOVE IN HER LIFE. MANY WOMEN LIVE A LIFETIME AND NEVER KNOW WHAT TRUE LOVE HIS. GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by miss one on January 14,2009 | 09:58 PM
The best story I read here is by far the one posted by Janine Guevara on January 14,2009 | 05:47PM Thank you Janine for this heart touching story. May God bless you and show us all to cherish that which we have in hand at this moment and at this time. Because it will never come again.
Posted by Jerry Canning on January 14,2009 | 09:55 PM
I went to the Park several years ago with a friend of mine and her 3 children. We spent the whole day there. We had a blast. We dug, we used a sieve and we walked around and stared. All together, we found 4 small pieces of Beryl and I found 1 very small diamond. It certainly was not anything to write home about, but it made my heart swell! I had actually found something. The Beryl pieces were very beautiful. The kids had a blast and their mom said they would be back. I encourage everyone to go if you can. Be prepared to get dirty and wear a hat.
Posted by Julie on January 14,2009 | 09:54 PM
I had a friend named Dwight here in Austin a about 15 years ago who used to mine crystals in Arkansas. He had some beautiful pieces and could easily have sold them for a fair price and it still would have been a steal...so yeah I believe you can still "mine" some great finds. 32 diamonds in less than a week? He WAS due after all those years of work. I try to be positive but I'm curious as to the outcome of the spectograph. I wish luck to all those seekers of stones and if Dwight is out there somewhere you'll know who you are. If you read this get in touch. Cass
Posted by Cassie Vizard on January 14,2009 | 09:51 PM
What Debeers has done to the industey is awfull anyone looking to find an alteritive should check out apollodiamond i have seen there work, and purchased diamonds from them,had them apraised and they are better in quality than a BLOOD DIAMOND
Posted by Lulu Walter on January 14,2009 | 09:49 PM
I am not a big fan of diamonds, I think it would be fun to go find a diamond in a park. De Beers has always had the Monopoly on diamonds. Diamonds are not a rare stone, nor or they expensive. De Beers only trickles out a handful every year to make people think they are expensive. They have warehouse full of diamonds. Blah to diamonds
Posted by Not a Diamond friend on January 14,2009 | 09:48 PM
Kendall, The penny in the hand is for size comparison. Looking at the diamond with nothing near it, makes it hard to judge the size of it. Comparing it to the penny, it still looks like a pretty good-size diamond!
Posted by Jodie on January 14,2009 | 09:48 PM
Wow... 8 grand in the earth... Money in the bank...
Posted by Dan on January 14,2009 | 09:47 PM
BEAUTIFUL STORY JAINE,I DROPPED A FEW TEARS
Posted by bill on January 14,2009 | 09:46 PM
For Kendall-The penny is there for a size reference. you know what the size of a penny is and so they are using it for comparison to give u an estimate of the size cause everyone's hand size is different. My mind is wasted on to many useless facts.
Posted by Jenn on January 14,2009 | 09:45 PM
DUDE that is awesome. I would love to go to the diamond place,
Posted by Patrick on January 14,2009 | 09:44 PM
The penny shows the size of the stone, but don't worry about it, pretty soon the only minerals we'll need will be lead and gunpowder...
Posted by Bob on January 14,2009 | 09:44 PM
Let me see... This guy has been coming for 26 years. I bet he knows what he is looking for. 52 weeks a year times 26 years. I bet he can have a good week. Leave him alone.
Posted by Chris Rasster on January 14,2009 | 09:43 PM
We spent a couple of days at the park. On the morning of the second day, jmy husband found a 17 point diamond. It is shiny and really nice. We had a Tiffany mounting made and mounted the diamond in it and then on my wedding band. I am very pleased with it. Hope to go back someday. Guess you could say it means more to me than going to the jewelry store.
Posted by janet on January 14,2009 | 09:42 PM
This is to Kendall from earlier today...with all gems, coins are often used to show the size of the gem...in comparison.
Posted by markds on January 14,2009 | 09:41 PM
he just could have gotten a big diamond and smashed it
Posted by eeeeeemma on January 14,2009 | 09:41 PM
the diamond dig is alot of fun.. we didn't find a diamond.. but I brought home a bucket of different colored rocks with me...everyone should go give it a try...take a camera for when everyone gets good and dirty digging..
Posted by Cat K on January 14,2009 | 09:40 PM
Wow I Can't belive it!
Posted by Nicole on January 14,2009 | 09:39 PM
Janine g.your father is very lucky to have a loving dougther like you.and im sure your dad loves you very much
Posted by ramiro on January 14,2009 | 09:38 PM
Corkery, YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS, CAN YOU?
Posted by henry on January 14,2009 | 09:36 PM
I lived in Murfreesboro for several years, and I can tell you that the author needs to do a little better research on Murfreesboro. The conway hotel hasn't been open in years. Rather the Queen of Diamonds Inn (quite new as a matter of fact) the Shamrock hotel and another one whose name escapes me, in additon to the cabins on near by lake Greeson handle the visitors. The area is beautiful, though hunting diamonds is not all that glamorous, but it is a good experience. Salting, lies, claims, the state meddling etc. has long been a part of the park's history.
Posted by Murfreesboro native on January 14,2009 | 09:36 PM
I have been to the Crater of Diamonds park. The Park personnel are pleasant and helpful. there is a visitor center where you can see the underground cone geography. The park itself appears to be an open field but as the article states the entire cone surface encompasses over 80 acres - there are sluices and panning equipment can be rented at the visitor center. Its a great day of fun for kids- If its muddy don't go the blue gray mud well stick to your feet hands everything! Most of the really large finds are made on the surface by people just walking. And the park service routinely uses a bulldozer to plow the open area turning over the soil.
Posted by shunt on January 14,2009 | 09:33 PM
The penny is to show scale of size of the diamond. Does anyone else know if there are any other atleast semi-precious stones to find there? I read mention of crystals-what kind quartz? garnet or what?
Posted by kevin hatfield on January 14,2009 | 09:33 PM
Kendall, the penny is for comparison so you can tell the size of the diamond relative to the size of the penny.
Posted by TM on January 14,2009 | 09:33 PM
The penny is there just so you can see the size in comparison to the diamond. If you can make diamonds in a lab, could you even sell the diamonds you found and where would you sell them to?
Posted by kathy on January 14,2009 | 09:32 PM
I've heard of a lot of amazing miracles so I just think that anything could happen.My favorite miracle is the Jesus cheeto.
Posted by Brian on January 14,2009 | 09:31 PM
wow! i love diamonds
Posted by julie on January 14,2009 | 09:31 PM
Its possible. Something like thiscould happen. Or maybe somebody robbed a jewerly store and buried it there. Or just maybe the guy did it and claiming that he found it.
Posted by honeylene on January 14,2009 | 09:31 PM
nice, great, and smart!!!!!!! Really cool!!!
Posted by Corina on January 14,2009 | 09:30 PM
Reminds me of my own time in the Turqoise Mountains, in an area of Death Valley called The Devil's Playground. Who knows? These rock people are a secretive bunch, and highly neurotic behavior can be said to be the norm. I myself witnessed a rockhound pull an improbably large piece of turquoise from the entrance of the old Toltec Mine. Thirty five years ago and I still don't believe it was legit..
Posted by greathornedlizard on January 14,2009 | 09:29 PM
can anyone tell me why there is a penny in the hand . by the diamond Posted by Kendall on January 14,2009 | 05:54PM AS A REFERENCE OF MEASUREMENT- EST SIZE.
Posted by CORKEY LOCKLEAR on January 14,2009 | 09:28 PM
Heck. I am going to sell my house,knock two of my front teeth out, buy me an old pickup, marry my first cousin, move to Arkansas, buy me a cabin with a refrigerator and stove on the front porch, and MINE FOR DIAMONDS at that there state park. lol
Posted by henry on January 14,2009 | 09:28 PM
The penny is there to compare to the size of the diamond.
Posted by Tanya C on January 14,2009 | 09:28 PM
can anyone tell me why there is a penny in the hand . by the diamond Posted by Kendall on January 14,2009 | 05:54PM I am pretty sure the penny is there to show how big the diamond was. I wish I could go hunting for them.
Posted by trish on January 14,2009 | 09:26 PM
me and my best friend visited the mine back this past summer and although we didnt find anything but a quartz, we did have fun digging through the mud all day. i would recommend anyone to Crater Of Diamonds...Lots of fun!!!!
Posted by Jennifer Snider on January 14,2009 | 09:23 PM
I feel your agony Janine Guevara. My Father had Alzheimers the last years of his life and then in the blink of an eye he was gone. I would rather believe in the fairy tale. Let people prospect at the site and look for some thing that sparkles in their eye...whether it be a rough diamond or the person at their side.
Posted by Deborah on January 14,2009 | 09:22 PM
To know more about the diamonds on Nunivak Island in Alaska, please email me.
Posted by johnnybeegoode on January 14,2009 | 09:20 PM
how do i get there please help me get there i had a dream!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by matt on January 14,2009 | 09:19 PM
I'm surprised by much of this article. First off, why is a diamond dealer giving out his client's invoices and sharing purchasing information with other parties? That seems at minimum, a bit unethical? As for Blake, it seems to me that he should be charged with fraud. Plus, I think it mentioned he also sold one? If so, he should definitley be charged with something. Anyone with legal knowledge? Chime in.
Posted by Dre on January 14,2009 | 09:19 PM
that may or may not be real.. i watch this show on tv this guy found real gold in alaska
Posted by Gary Middleton on January 14,2009 | 09:17 PM
If he did actually find the diamonds, my hat goes off to him. People should be happy for other people ,especially right now ,if they have the good fortune to have something that wonderful to happen to them, be happy for them and wish them good fortune in the future. You know what they say about karma.
Posted by kathy on January 14,2009 | 09:15 PM
Diamonds can be found in many fields. If the field you are in isn't producing, then swithch...entrepreneurs have been doing so for years.
Posted by Franklin on January 14,2009 | 09:15 PM
Been here 13 years and havent figured out how to fix it yet.
Posted by Jeff on January 14,2009 | 09:11 PM
Its too bad the earth is not "billions" of years old. If these idiot liberal scientists used the right time line and priced these stones accordingly there would be a bigger market for lab diamonds. But of course this can never happen. The new world currency is coming is so is the New World Order. We cant ruin the fundamental plans of the people who control us.
Posted by Sergey on January 14,2009 | 09:11 PM
laundering
Posted by dou ter on January 14,2009 | 09:09 PM
i want shiny rocks too! D=
Posted by scrappy_=D on January 14,2009 | 09:09 PM
i think blake was lieing through his teeth
Posted by sassy on January 14,2009 | 09:06 PM
Sounds like Bernard Madoff made it to okie. Ed Davis
Posted by on January 14,2009 | 09:06 PM
I live in Mufreesboro....about five miles from the Crater of Diamonds. If that man found over few diamonds in just a couple of weeks, he's extremely lucky. Some people spend forever and never find anything. Something smells fishy.
Posted by Richard Barbre on January 14,2009 | 09:04 PM
There are diamonds on Nunivak Island in Alaska!! Look around the eruption bowls...where early volcanoes erupted from deep underground. Seek and ye shall find it!
Posted by johnnybeegoode on January 14,2009 | 09:04 PM
I think it's great I'd like to go I love diamonds
Posted by misty wigington on January 14,2009 | 08:59 PM
It's blood diamonds coming out of South African mines, too, because they are dug out by the lives and blood of the men who have been exploited for generations, their families living in metal shacks. Arkansas diamonds could be easily identified by a spectrograph, so wassup with the fuss??
Posted by ,inga rainbow on January 14,2009 | 08:55 PM
can anyone tell me why there is a penny in the hand . by the diamond
Posted by Kendall on January 14,2009 | 08:54 PM
so wonderfull story I find from this article. This is my first time to joint to smithsonian journeys news. Many exciting information we can get here. However in my country we can show many exciting palaces to contribute this magazine.
Posted by broto frinanto on January 14,2009 | 08:54 PM
I wonder if there is a tie in to Robert Hanssen ... Hanssen took raw diamonds from the USSR as partial payment for his "services" betrayel of the US! -------- Former F.B.I. Agent Gets Life in Prison For Years as a Spy - New ... May 11, 2002 ... The former F.B.I. agent Robert Hanssen was sentenced today to life in ... He volunteered to spy first for the Soviet military intelligence ... query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B05E2DF1639F932A25756C0A9649C8B63&se... - 42k - Cached - Similar pages
Posted by Willie on January 14,2009 | 08:50 PM
This is fascinating. I am in Little Rock Arkansas right now. I went to The Crater of Diamonds State Park Saturday January 10 2009 at 0830 hrs. I researched the mine the night before. I went to the website. I saw a couple of pictures, and read the stories. I was quite excited to go to the mine. I got there, and saw it was just a field. I was expecting a magical moment. The soil was too wet to sift. We were told to glance over the surface. The water may have washed the diamonds. I learned it takes a trained eye, time, and luck. I want to find a diamond in the field to use for my engagement ring. I am going to attempt to fly back one day when I can spend more time searching. It is quite ironic. I spent 1 year in Iraq in a dessert and hated every moment. I got to the state park, and I enjoyed starring into the dirt for hours and not find anything but average rocks. They say it can be addicting. They are right! I am currently filming a new movie. We have Disney actors, and well know actresses participating. It is about a dog sled team in Vermont. It is a kids adventure comedy for the whole family. “Peace Pups The Movie” produced by Image Studioz.com, starring Peace Pups Dog Sledding. Happy hunting. See you there.
Posted by Sgt Arel, Chad on January 14,2009 | 08:49 PM
De Beers has ALWAYS been crooks in the industry and are still continuing this nonsense today for their own profitability. Engagement rings are marketed to guys so they can buy the expensive ones for their girls...But they aren't really worth that much, it's the memories that come from possessing them, not the worth!
Posted by Ms Mariette on January 14,2009 | 08:48 PM
I prefer the fairytale. The ring I wear for a wedding band is my mother's, it is almost a carat solitaire and sparkles beatifully as I glance at it(about 20 times a day). But what makes me happy when I look at it is not that it is a diamond, but that it is a diamond my dad bought for my mom while on the USS Enterprise years ago. It represents to me the love he had for her then, when she was quite brilliant herself and the love he still rains on her, when she's not able to care for herself in the least. She has had almost 9 years of Alheimer's under her belt, and to anyone else but my father, it shows. All he sees is his 'baby,' his 'sweetheart.' When he looks at her, she's just as brilliant now as she was then, when he first gave her the diamond. I remember nights when he would take her ring and go spend an hour shining it for her and then lovingly place it back on her finger. So romantic. Yes, I choose the fairytale, it's much more fun, and who cares how much it's worth, I don't make my money selling them, so it doesn't matter to me, I would love this ring just as much if it had no value other than the fact that my mom has worn it for years. And I'll never forget when and why my dad gave it to me to wear. It was after several years into her illness when my mom started 'burying' things under piles of toilet tissue, paper towels and dirty clothes. My dad found it behind their toilet bowl under a wad of toilet tissue, and he said, "Here, you better wear this before we lose it" I cried and cried, it's so hard to realize the loss of a parent, no matter how slow the going is. I will always love this diamond, just as I will always love my mother, and be grateful for my many other blessings as well. Vote for the fairytale, reality is not always what it's cracked up to be... Many blessings and good health, Janine Guevara :0)
Posted by Janine Guevara on January 14,2009 | 08:47 PM
I propected in Arkansas for crystals and herkamir diamonds and pulled enough out of fissures with a pick and sledge and ono long bar to keep me going all the way back to Hawaii and than some. I sold the crystal plates in San Francisco and on the road at rest stops for gas and lodging trades and gifts that returned as dinner or Breakfast when ever I was without they made sure I had something. One time a few crystals returned as gift of a few black and white chips in a Vegas Casino. It is an exciting and healthy adventure.
Posted by THOMAS on January 14,2009 | 08:45 PM
I've read a couple of articles about this interesting site. I've told my wife about it and we will someday visit it. For now, good luck to everyone who visits this park and when we can afford to visit, we will.
Posted by Michael Judd on January 14,2009 | 08:44 PM
Should someone seed the mines, trying to bring in big businesses to dig around it again...this isn't too cool. Let the fellows dig, let them find a treasure. I lived in Arkansas 5 years but never made it over to the mine. I wish I had of. It really sounds like fun and my friend came and their two adopted kids...and had a blast...just digging ...which is healthy anyway to dig in dirt... It would thrill me to see People in Schools bring children on a "dig for diamonds" science class activity. Use this also for helping underpriviledged children get money for college...just use your brain and help kids! That's my thoughts! Have a Bessed day! Joyce Guy
Posted by Joyce Guy on January 14,2009 | 08:42 PM
Hi, I am interested in Diamonds and its mining as I have good Knowledge of Diamonds nad also cutting of it also. Please contact.
Posted by kishor on January 14,2009 | 08:41 PM
I wish i could find a diomond like that
Posted by Jessica on January 14,2009 | 08:38 PM
wasnt a woman named shirley strawn the first to find diamonds in arkanas?
Posted by jesse on January 14,2009 | 08:38 PM
The Diamond Mine is a real place. I camped outside at a campground for 2 weeks because the park campground was full. It was a very good campground and the owner was very nice and helpful. Well, anyway, I looked for Diamonds for 5 seperate days. Alot of sifting and digging through mud to hopefully find one diamond. There sure are alot of rocks out there in that field, but I never found one Diamond. The bad part of my work, which was fun to do, was while sitting on the ground next to a two foot deep hole I dug, a woman no more than five feet from me bends over and picks up a 1.2 carat diamond laying on top of the soil. I looked at my hole I dug to sift through, stood up, and left the park. I went to dinner and returned to my camp site. I still want to return just to find one Diamond so I may say that I have.
Posted by B Brooks on January 14,2009 | 08:38 PM
i want to find diamonds... :]
Posted by allyson on January 14,2009 | 08:38 PM
I found 33 diamonds in less than a week. Guess that makes me better than you...
Posted by Mrknowitall on January 14,2009 | 08:37 PM
I believe anything it's possible....
Posted by Cynara Ribeiro on January 14,2009 | 08:34 PM
This is just sad, people have to conterfiet diamonds to get "rich" another thing this guy did wrong was pick up so many diamonds in such little time oh well his stupidity is/was not my problem
Posted by Jonathan on January 14,2009 | 08:33 PM