Oklahoma Family Unearths Diamond in Arkansas

An Oklahoma family recently hit the jackpot with a remarkable diamond discovery in Arkansas State Park. This exciting find took place in the Diamond State Park near Murfreesboro, which was announced by park officials on September 23rd.

The family, hailing from Cookson, Oklahoma, about 65 miles southeast of Tulsa, stumbled upon the gem on September 13th. Their visit coincided with a birthday celebration for Reina Madison’s nephew, William. During their trip, they decided to explore the park’s crater, hoping to dig up some gems.

In preparation, they picked up some beach drilling kits and sand sifting tools from a dollar store, eager to try their luck. They chose to dig just north of the park’s 37.5-acre diamond-search area near the explorer’s trailhead.

After a while of digging and filling buckets with dirt, Madison spotted “an unusual oval shiny stone” while sifting through the dirt.

Initially, Madison’s aunt expressed her surprise, saying she thought it was “really neat” but wasn’t quite sure what it was. “Honestly, I thought it was too big to be a diamond!” she commented.

The find was confirmed to be a 2.79-carat brown diamond, marking a significant discovery within the state park.

Madison decided to honor her nephew by naming the gem William Diamond. Park interpreter Emma O’Neill explained that the brown color of the diamonds found in the park results from a phenomenon called plastic deformation, which introduces structural imperfections during the diamond’s formation or movement within magma. These flaws create a unique appearance, reflecting red and green light and thus giving the diamond its brown hue.

As for the diamond’s value, Arkansas State Parks hasn’t specified. They noted that the “precise value” of many diamonds remains unknown until they are cut or assessed. The park’s website adds that parking staff are not authorized to evaluate diamonds.

Interestingly, 2025 has already seen 403 diamonds discovered at the park, with four of them weighing over two carats. Earlier this year, a pair of Minnesota farmers even found a “candy-like” diamond, reminiscent of Werther’s candy wrappers. In 2024, a visitor from France uncovered a 7.46-carat diamond there, while tourist Julian Navas named a gem after his fiancé, Carine.