A Stunning Discovery: Seven-Year-Old Girl Finds 2.95-Carat Diamond in Arkansas State Park
September 1 was a day of celebration for Aspen Brown as she marked her seventh birthday at the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas. Little did she know that her special day would become even more extraordinary when she unearthed a 2.95-carat golden brown diamond.
In a press release issued by the park, it was revealed that Brown’s find is the second-largest registered by a park guest this year, only surpassed by a 3.29-carat brown diamond discovered in March. The incredible discovery sheds light on the potential of the park’s unique diamond-rich landscape.
The park’s superintendent, Caleb Howell, shared some insight into the circumstances surrounding Brown’s remarkable find. In August, a contracted company had dug a 150-yard trench to manage erosion on the north side of the search area. This excavation exposed several tons of diamond-bearing material that had not been searched thoroughly, leaving room for the possibility of additional discoveries.
On the day of the discovery, Brown was accompanied by her father and grandmother as they made their way to the north side of the 37.5-acre diamond search area. This vast expanse is a plowed field that sits atop the eroded surface of an ancient diamond-bearing volcano. It is within this unique terrain that Brown stumbled upon her extraordinary gem.
As the family took a break from their search, Brown sought respite from the heat by sitting on some rocks near the fence line. Suddenly, she burst with excitement, running towards her father exclaiming, “Dad! Dad! I found one!” The diamond, about the size of a green pea, boasts a captivating golden-brown color and a sparkling luster, described by Waymon Cox, assistant park superintendent, as one of the most beautiful diamonds he has seen in recent years. The gem is a complete crystal, devoid of broken facets, with a small crevice on one side—a remnant from its formation.
Overjoyed by her discovery, Brown aptly named the gem the “Aspen Diamond.” Her father, Luther Brown, humbly admitted that no particular skills were required for her find. She was merely in the right place at the right time.
Interestingly, Brown’s find is not the first significant discovery in that particular area. The press release mentions that her diamond was found in close proximity to the location where the 3.72-carat Caro Avenger diamond was unearthed in 2019. In 2023 alone, 563 diamonds weighing more than 89 carats have been registered at the Crater of Diamonds State Park, with an average of one to two diamonds discovered by park visitors each day.
The Crater of Diamonds State Park holds a wealth of history and is renowned for being one of the few places in the world where visitors can freely search for diamonds in their original volcanic source. Since its establishment as a state park in 1972, more than 75,000 diamonds have been unearthed on the grounds. Notably, the largest diamond ever discovered in the United States was found in 1924 during an early mining operation on the land that ultimately became the state park.
Brown’s remarkable find serves as a testament to the park’s unique geological characteristics and the allure it holds for diamond enthusiasts. Her story adds to the rich tapestry of the Crater of Diamonds State Park’s legacy, emphasizing the potential for extraordinary discoveries that lie just beneath the surface. As visitors continue to explore the park, the anticipation of unearthing a hidden gem remains, reminding us all that treasures can be found in the most unexpected places.
