There are various kinds of holidays- some of which you have explored some probably you might not. But have you ever enjoyed a trip to a diamond field where you can be at your will, where you can dig, find and even keep whatever you find on the field as part of discovery? This diamond mining site in Arkansas, the Crater of Diamonds State Park, allows visitors to do just that!

The site is a treasure trove giving at least two diamonds each day along with other precious and semi-precious gems and stones like garnet, amethyst, peridot and quartz and many other distinct minerals. Covering a massive area of 37.5 acres, the Crater of Diamond State Park is considered the eighth largest diamond site in the world. However, the original site dates back to almost 95 million years.

Most diamond lodes are formed mainly due to volcanic explosion leaving behind craters and tubes with gems, diamonds, minerals and precious stones. However, looking at the site today, it would be difficult to imagine that the site initially had a crater of over 84 acres. Today, the excavation site has several trenches and rows with hardly any volcanic activity. It is beautifully surrounded by pine forests and camping and water activities help you enjoy after a long and tiring day of diamond mining.

The site was opened in 1972 and ever since had been an active diamond mining area and till date has produced over 26,000 diamonds and thousands of other precious stones. The Strawn-Wagner Diamond, the park’s finest discovery is displayed proudly at the visitor’s center. The Strawn-Wagner Diamond is also certified by the American Gem Society as the most perfect diamond. Uncle Sam which weighs over 42 carats and the largest diamond in the United States is displayed at the Park as well. In 1971, this diamond was cut to a 12 carat emerald cut stone.

Yellow, white and brown are the main color varieties of the diamonds that are found in the Park. Presently, brown diamonds dominate the market and are popular among gem collectors and jewelery enthusiasts. Locating stones at the Park is very simple for example; Pathfinder Diamond was lying on the roads within the mining area. Simple tools like shovels and gloves are necessary to locate a diamond. You can even hire screens, shovels and gloves from the Park to explore the field. You can also take help from park rangers and miners in this job.