Girl finds rare 2.95-carat diamond in Arkansas park — on her birthday

September 9, 2023

Talk about a rock-solid birthday.

A girl celebrating her 7th birthday this month found a rare 2.95-carat golden brown diamond at an Arkansas state park.

Aspen Brown, of Paragould, found the valuable, pea-sized jewel during a trip to Crater of Diamonds State Park with her father and grandmother to celebrate her birthday on Sept. 1, according to Arkansas State Parks.

She was resting near a pile of large rocks atop the eroded surface of an ancient, diamond-bearing volcano when something shiny caught her eye.

“Next thing I know, she was running to me, saying ‘Dad! Dad! I found one!’” her father, Luther Brown, recalled.

Aspen hauled her loot to the park’s Diamond Discovery Center, where they confirmed that the birthday girl had indeed found a massive diamond.

To come across a gem of that size at the 37.5-acre diamond search area is an “exceptionally rare” find, Aaron Palke, a research scientist for the Gemological Institute of America, told Insider.

The Aspen Diamond is the second largest found this year at the diamond-rich state park.

Most diggers — including professionals — only find diamonds throughout the park between .05 and .20 carats, roughly the size of a grain of rice.

“It’s very unusual to find a diamond like that in Arkansas,” Palke told the outlet.

Not only was it a big rock, but professionals said it was in near-perfect condition.

“Aspen’s diamond has a golden-brown color and a sparkling luster. It is a complete crystal, with no broken facets and a small crevice on one side, created when the diamond was formed,” said Waymon Cox, assistant park superintendent.

The park allows guest to keep any rock or mineral they find while searching its 37-acre field. — The park allows guests to keep any rock or mineral they find while searching its 37-acre field.

“It’s certainly one of the most beautiful diamonds I’ve seen in recent years.”

But how much the rare stone is worth remains a secret.

In honor of her birthday and her incredible eye, Aspen decided to name the gem after herself.

You may bring your own mining equipment to search with (no battery-operated or motor-driven mining tools allowed), or rent tools from the park. — The park allows visitors to bring their own mining equipment to search, with the exception of battery-operated or motor-driven mining tools, or they can rent tools from the park.

The Aspen Diamond is the second largest found this year at the diamond-rich state park, topped only by a 3.29-carat brown stone discovered in March.

It is, however, the first large diamond registered since the the park completed an excavation project last month.

“A contracted company dug a 150-yard trench in August to help manage erosion on the north side of the search area,” said Caleb Howell, park superintendent.

“Several tons of unsearched diamond-bearing material were exposed and it’s very possible that this diamond and others were uncovered as a result.”