New York Woman Discovers 2-Carat Diamond at Arkansas State Park

MURFREESBORO, Ark. -- A remarkable find occurred at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas when a woman from New York discovered a stunning 2.3-carat white diamond, which she intends to use as an engagement ring.

Micherre Fox, a 31-year-old resident of Manhattan, dedicated several weeks in July to searching for diamonds in the park's expansive 37-acre field, an area formed from the remnants of an ancient volcanic crater. On her final day at the park, while casually walking, she noticed a sparkling object on the ground. Upon inspection by park staff, it was confirmed that the gem she found was indeed a diamond, weighing 2.3 carats and comparable in size to a canine tooth.

Fox expressed her joy and disbelief at the discovery, stating she was overwhelmed with emotion upon realizing she had unearthed such a significant treasure. This diamond marks the third-largest find of the year at the park, which has seen over 350 diamonds discovered by visitors so far.

The park is open to the public, allowing adults to engage in diamond hunting for a fee of $15 per day. To facilitate this activity, park staff regularly plow the field to loosen the soil, making it easier for gem hunters to uncover precious stones.

Since its establishment as a state park in 1972, Crater of Diamonds has become a popular destination for those hoping to find diamonds, with more than 35,000 diamonds having been discovered and kept by visitors over the years.

Historically, the largest diamond ever found in the United States was also unearthed in this park. Known as Uncle Sam, this remarkable white diamond weighed 40.23 carats and was discovered during early mining operations in 1924. It was later cut into a 12.42-carat emerald shape and is currently part of the mineral and gem collection at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.