Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Sparkling find! Dad and son find 2 ct diamond at Arkansas state park

It is the 412th diamond registered at the park this year and the 36,500th diamond registered since it became Arkansas State Park in 1972

Michelle Del Rey
Friday 09 August 2024 15:05 EDT
Comments
World’s largest diamond

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

An Arizona father and son discovered a 2ct diamond at the Arkansas Crater of Diamonds State Park while on a summer road trip.

Will and Marshall Barnett made the discovery on July 27 after entering the park’s 37.5 diamond search area, a field sitting on top of a formerly diamond-bearing volcano.

They filled their bucks with dirt from the field and went to the park’s wash pavilion to look for their diamonds.

As the pair sifted through the dirt at their washing stations, Will, the boy’s father, called his son over to him.

“Hey, Marshall, you should take a look at this,” he said.

After taking the rock to the park’s Diamond Discovery Center, staff confirmed that the two had found a large 2ct diamond.

Will and Marshall Barnett photographed with their diamond find
Will and Marshall Barnett photographed with their diamond find (Crater of Diamonds)

“You could tell they knew they had found something special from the smiles on their faces,” Ashlyn Keys, the park’s interpreter, told the outlet.

The diamond is rectangular in shape, about the size of a pencil eraser with a light brown color resembling iced tea, the park said in the release.

The Park’s Superintendent Caleb Howell confirmed the diamond’s condition.

“The first thing I noticed was two large facets that really shined when the light hit them just right,” Howell said.

Park visitors can name the diamonds they find at the park. The father and son choose to name it the “Minor Find” in reference to the boy’s age and status as a “minor-miner”.

The park has a finders-keeper rule, meaning people who find diamonds at the park are allowed to keep them.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in