Amateur Prospector Discovers Large 4.38 Carat Yellow Diamond At State Park

Oct 06, 2021 by apost team

Imagine stumbling across a beautiful gem while leisurely walking through one of the most famous national parks in the U.S.! This is what happened to one woman who had been visiting the Crater of State Diamonds Park in Arkansas in September 2021. She has since gained some local fame due to the rarity of the diamond she found.

A statement released by Arkansas State Parks reported that since retiring in 2011, Noreen and Michael Wredberg, who are from Granite Bay, California, have been spending much of their leisure time traveling and visiting America’s National Parks. During a stopover at Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas, Noreen realized that they were also close to another destination she had wanted to visit for a long time: Crater of Diamonds State Park.

“Arkansas is the only state in the country that has a diamond mine open to the public,” Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism Secretary Stacy Hurst said, adding, “It’s such a unique experience and visitors make lifetime memories, whether or not they find a diamond. Of course, finding a diamond adds to the experience!”

Naturally, such an interesting place is sure to be a hit for people who want a unique experience in their lives; it led Noreena and Michael to find a gorgeous yellow diamond during their time in the park. Finding a diamond is an incredible thing by itself, but to find one of the largest ones of the year 2020 — a gem that is potentially worth over $10,000 — that's remarkable. This story is one for the books and one that Noreen and Michael will likely be telling for years to come.

CNN News reported that Noreen said she did not expect to find anything the morning she was at the park with her husband and wasn't sure what she had found when she picked up a stone. "It was cold in the shade that morning," Michael said, "so I told Noreen that we should go to the middle of the field, where it was warmer."

Arkansas State Parks reported that Noreen added, "I didn’t know it was a diamond then, but it was clean and shiny, so I picked it up!" Soon, it became clear that Noreen had found something truly special. 

The diamond is "about the size of a jellybean, with a pear shape and a lemonade color," Park Superintendent Caleb Howell said, and according to CNN, the stone weighs 4.38 carats. Howell added, "When I first saw this diamond under the microscope, I thought, ‘Wow, what a beautiful shape and color!’" It is reportedly the largest ever diamond found at the park.

People who find large Crater diamonds often choose to name their gems, according to Arkansas State Parks, and Noreen named hers Lucy’s Diamond after her husband’s kitten. "The name is sentimental to us. Lucy is mostly gray but has slight tints of yellow in her fur, similar to the light yellow of my diamond." 

CBS News reported that Noreen and Michael have since returned to California and have not yet decided what to do with the diamond. They also have yet to get the diamond appraised, which means that the worth of the stone is not yet known. NBC reported that more than 75,000 diamonds have been discovered at the Crater of Diamonds since 1906.

apost.com

What do you think of this incredible story? Have you come across a beautiful gem in your life before accidentally? Tell us about your experiences, and be sure to pass this on to your friends and family as well.