This Independence Day, the United States celebrates its 245th birthday (que the confetti)! What better way to honor the hard, and often, unseen work it took to create this nation than with diamonds! After all, diamonds are the hardest and most durable gemstone mineral.
The land of Arkansas was part of French Louisiana, and America acquired it through the Louisiana Purchase. It officially became a state on June 15, 1836. While large countries may be a relatively new concept, the land that makes up the United States is as old as our Earth meaning it is rich with minerals and resources.
Crater of Diamonds State Park is located in western Arkansas, and it became a state park in 1972. Prior to that, it was privately owned, but diamonds, amethyst, garnets, jasper, agate, and quartz have been found in the volcanic crater since 1906. In fact, the largest diamond ever to be found in the United States was found in Crater of Diamonds in 1924 and is the Uncle Sam Diamond, a whopping 40.23ct! Over 33,100 diamonds have been found in Crater of Diamonds State Park.
Crater of Diamonds State Park is the only place in the world where diamond mining is public, and you can keep what you find. It costs $10.00 for an adult and $6.00 for children to spend a day combing over the 37.5 plowed field looking for a sparkly treasure. They have equipment to rent if you don’t have any, although, no battery operated or motor driven tools are allowed.
Besides the Uncle Sam diamond, some of the incredible discoveries include:
· A 9.07ct diamond was found by Kevin Kinard on September 7, 2020 (yep, just last year!). See pic above of Kevin!!
· A 3.03ct diamond was found by Shirley Strawn in 1990. She had it cut into a 1.09ct round
brilliant cut which was then graded by the independent Lab, The American Gem Society. It was an incredible D color, Flawless clarity with an Ideal cut. A very rare diamond, indeed!
· A 4.25ct canary yellow diamond was found in 1977 by George Stepp. He later sold it to Stan Kahn who loaned it to Hilary Clinton to wear to her husband presidential inauguration gala in 1993 and 1997.
I hope this inspires you as make your summer plans! The park also has many other activities like, camping, hiking, and even a water park. Happy birthday, America!
I would love to help you with your special purchase or custom design! Angela Cisneros Jewelry Concierge brings back the joy and confidence of jewelry shopping, so that you can celebrate with ease! My by-appointment approach means:
One-on-one appointments (personal attention and no crowds!)
Discretion and privacy (surprises remain surprises!)
Expert help from a Graduate Gemologist with 24 years of experience (yep, that’s me!)
Book your FREE appointment with me today! www.angelacisneros.com/book-appointment
Photo Credit: Crater of Diamonds State Park website
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