A family from Oklahoma struck gold when they uncovered a stunning diamond at a state park in Arkansas earlier this month, using tools purchased from a dollar store.
This exciting find at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro was revealed by Arkansas State Parks on September 23.
The fortunate family hails from Cookson, Oklahoma, located about 65 miles southeast of Tulsa and made their discovery on September 13.
Visitor Raynae Madison, who was with her family, shared that they traveled to Arkansas to celebrate the birthday of Madison’s nephew, William.
As part of their adventure, they decided to stop by the Crater of Diamonds State Park to see if they could unearth any gems, according to the official press release.
“To gear up for their visit, they picked up a beach digging kit and sand sifting tools from a dollar store,” the press release explained.
“The family chose a location for digging on the northern section of the park’s 37.5-acre diamond search area, close to the Prospector Trailhead.”
After digging through several buckets of soil, they started sifting through their findings when Madison spotted “an unusual shiny, oblong stone.”
The aunt expressed to officials that she thought the find was “really cool” initially, but was uncertain about its identity.
“I honestly thought it might be too large to be a diamond!” she commented.
The gem turned out to be a brown diamond weighing 2.79 carats—an impressive catch for the state park.
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Madison decided to name the diamond after her nephew, calling it the William Diamond.
“The presence of brown diamonds at the Crater is a result of a process known as plastic deformation, which introduces structural defects during the diamond’s formation or movement through magma,” explained park interpreter Emma O’Neal regarding the discovery.
“These defects capture red and green light, giving the diamond its brown appearance.”
Arkansas State Parks does not disclose the value of gems found within the park, noting that the “exact worth” is often unknown until the diamonds are cut or appraised.
“Staff at the park do not grade or appraise diamonds,” advises the park’s website.
In 2025, a total of 403 diamonds have been uncovered at Crater of Diamonds State Park, including four that weighed over 2 carats.
Earlier this year, a farmer from Minnesota found a diamond that he likened to a Werther’s candy wrapper due to its sweet appearance.
In 2024, a French visitor discovered a 7.46-carat diamond at the park, which he named after his fiancée, Carine.
