Unexpected Find at Arkansas Park
A man from Texas stumbled upon an unexpected treasure during a recent family getaway. This surprising moment was sparked, interestingly enough, by Siri searches conducted by his wife and kids.
James Ward, 41, unearthed a 2.09-carat brown diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Pike County on December 30. He was there on a family trip with his wife, Elizabeth, and their two young sons, Adrian, 9, and Austin, 7.
Interestingly, the idea to visit the park actually came from the youngest, Austin. Elizabeth recounted that while they were watching TV one day, Austin asked her, “Is there a place in Texas or somewhere nearby where we can mine crystals?” She then quickly used Siri to find Crater of Diamonds State Park.
“I sent James the link, and he was surprised it was only about six hours away. We figured, why not go?” she added.
The gem, now known as the Ward Diamond, was found on the second day of their visit. The first day was quite cold, but Adrian urged the family to return the following day, which proved to be a good decision.
“I wasn’t sure what I had found, but I knew it was something different from my usual finds,” James remarked.
According to Waymon Cox, an assistant park ranger, this kind of diamond can be compared to corn kernels in that they often have a unique deep tan color and a striking metallic sheen, which is characteristic of diamonds found in this region.
He explained that these diamonds originate in the Earth’s upper mantle and are brought to the surface through ancient volcanic activity over millions of years. Many of them, unfortunately, are chipped or flawed due to geological forces.
As to what lies ahead for the diamond, Ward mentioned he was contemplating whether to sell it or keep it as a family treasure, noting, “We should probably find out how much it’s worth first.”
He also encouraged others at the park to persist in their searching, as it can take time to strike gold—or, rather, diamonds.
“Listen to your kids’ ideas; you never know where they might lead!” Elizabeth chimed in, highlighting the importance of nurturing children’s dreams.
Park officials have noted that while they can assist guests in identifying and documenting their finds, they aren’t trained to appraise diamonds. Visitors needing to get their gems graded are advised to contact a certified gemologist for an accurate evaluation.
James’s find adds to the number of precious stones discovered at Crater of Diamonds State Park. Just last September, a family from Oklahoma found a 2.79-carat diamond with tools from a dollar store. Another visitor from Minnesota discovered a remarkable 3.81-carat brown diamond earlier this year, cheekily comparing it to a candy wrapper.
