Editors

Why there are diamonds in Arkansas

EditorsAug 10, 2015

Why there are diamonds in Arkansas

Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff explores the geologic origins of the diamonds found in The Natural State.

Every so often, we get wind of a big diamond find down at the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas, the most recent of which came in late June.

An amateur prospector from Colorado uncovered a beautiful 8.52-carat white rough diamond and the story, as Crater stories usually do, ranked among National Jeweler’s most-read articles for the week.

Whenever we cover discoveries like these at the Crater of Diamonds, two questions always come to mind for me.

Number one, why are there diamonds in Arkansas, and are there diamonds in any other part of the United States? And, number two, are people finding more diamonds in Arkansas recently or are diamond finds just getting more coverage?

To understand why there are diamonds in The Natural State, you have to go back about 300 million years, when the two tectonic plates we now call North and South America collided with each other.

The collision formed the Ouachita (pronounced wash-a-taw) mountain range, which is located just eight miles north of the park.

Now fast-forward about 200 million years, to 100 million years ago, and the site where the park is today blows a gasket, literally (as is common where the Earth’s tectonic plates have converged.)

Instability within the Earth’s mantle forced gas and rock to move toward the surface, and there was a volcanic eruption that blew an 83-acre, funnel-shaped hole into the Earth, Crater Park Interpreter Waymon Cox explained to me via a phone interview recently.

(In case anyone is wondering, he’s called an interpreter because it’s his job to relay, i.e., interpret, information about the park’s geology, history and on how to search for diamonds to visitors.)

Cox said many diamonds, which had been forming underground due to the heat and pressure, came up with eruption.

While many were destroyed in the blast, a fair number also survived, and that’s what visitors find today at the Crater.

So, have the last couple of years, which have their share of good-sized rough finds, been an unusually active time for the park?

This photo, courtesy of Crater of Diamonds State Park, shows the search area at the Arkansas landmark. Diamonds were first discovered at the site in 1906 and various entities tried to mine it commercially until the 1950s, when it was turned into a tourist attraction.
This photo, courtesy of Crater of Diamonds State Park, shows the search area at the Arkansas landmark. Diamonds were first discovered at the site in 1906 and various entities tried to mine it commercially until the 1950s, when it was turned into a tourist attraction.

Cox doesn’t answer with an overwhelming yes, saying only that diamond discoveries at the park come and go in waves, influenced by a couple different factors.

First, there is the weather. More rain brings more diamond finds, as it washes away dirt and makes stones easier to find.

Secondly, there are the crowds. One big diamond find seems to begat another, not because people have hit on a particularly rich  vein at the site but because big finds get a lot of publicity, bringing more people out to search. 

More people searching equals more people turning up diamonds.

So, what about searching in other areas of the United States? Could there be more fields like that found at the Crater in Arkansas?

The GIA’s Russ Shor, who visited the Crater of Diamonds back in the 1990s when he was a writer for JCK (current JCK Editor-in-Chief Victoria Gomelsky did so as well, much more recently), said diamonds also were found near Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado in the ‘90s and, going back even farther, JCK reported on diamonds being discovered in Georgia in the 1890s (before National Jeweler even existed).

But, overall, there has never been a huge diamond discovery in the U.S.

Shor notes that kimberlite and lamproite pipes, the two types of pipes that carry diamonds, don’t have an equal distribution of the stones and, of those that do contain diamonds, a smaller percentage still contain an amount of diamonds that make mining worth it. 

(Interesting side note: the pipe at the Crater of Diamonds is a lamproite pipe. Shor says the only other known lamproite deposit in the world is the Argyle mine in Australia.) 

He also notes that kimberlite pipes often come in clusters, like with the Kimberley Mines in South Africa.

At the Crater of Diamonds, Cox says they did try to mine the site commercially from 1906, when diamonds were first found there, to the 1950s. 

In the 1990s, when a man named Bill Clinton was governor, the state decided it was once and for all going to determine if it was a sitting on diamond deposit that was worth mining or not.

As you might have guessed, what the state found was that the site “wasn’t commercially viable,” Cox says.

And so a park it remains. Happy hunting. 

Michelle Graffis the editor-in-chief at National Jeweler, directing the publication’s coverage both online and in print.
tags:

The Latest

Cast Issa Rae
MajorsJul 01, 2025
Cast Closes Business, Plans for Relaunch

The jewelry company has closed its three California brick-and-mortar stores, as well as its online shop, for now.

Eve Goldberg, Matthew Denatale, Willie Lopez, Benjamin Goldberg
Events & AwardsJul 01, 2025
William Goldberg Diamonds, FIT Partner for Apprenticeship Program

The company is providing the opportunity for an FIT student to work alongside master diamond cutter Willie Lopez in its workshop.

Elie Hannoush
IndependentsJul 01, 2025
Elie Hannoush, Founder of Hannoush Jewelers, Dies at 73

He is remembered for his successful entrepreneurship, generosity, and dedication to his family.

an instructor and a student in a bench jewelry classroom
Brought to you by
Investing in the Next Generation of Bench Jewelers

The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.

Claire’s store
MajorsJul 01, 2025
Claire’s Is Looking for a Buyer, Report Says

The jewelry store chain has reportedly been struggling with costs related to tariffs as well as tough retail competition.

Weekly QuizJun 26, 2025
This Week’s Quiz
Test your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Take the Quiz
Mindi Mond Spike Earrings
TrendsJul 01, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Red Hot Rubies

Welcome warm summer days with red hot rubies perfectly chosen as July’s birthstone.

The Story of Everything Campaign, Toadstool Mushroom and Cosmic Egg
CollectionsJun 30, 2025
State Property’s New Jewelry Tells ‘The Story of Everything’

Co-founders Afzal Imram and Lin Ruiyin brought their son’s story of a cosmic egg, toadstool, and railroad to life in their new collection.

Jewelers of America logo with meetup, State of the Majors, giveaway and massages
Brought to you by
Jewelers of America is Headed to Las Vegas for JCK 2025

The countdown is on for the JCK Las Vegas Show and JA is pulling out all the stops.

Smart Age Solutions CEO Emmanuel Raheb
ColumnistsJun 30, 2025
The Smart Lab: Why Q3 Is the Secret Weapon For Holiday Jewelry Sales

The best time to prepare for the holiday season is right now, according to columnist Emmanuel Raheb.

Morgan Keefe
Events & AwardsJun 30, 2025
AGA Names Recipient of 2025 Gemological Education Scholarship

This year’s winner is Morgan Keefe, who is currently studying at GIA to be a gemologist.

The Jewelry Book
IndependentsJun 30, 2025
Melanie Grant’s New Book Explores 200 Years of Jewelry

“The Jewelry Book” comes out this September.

Gemist
TechnologyJun 27, 2025
Gemist Raises $6M in Funding to Scale Jewelry Tech Platform

The company is focused on modernizing the custom jewelry buying experience with e-commerce tools like product visualization and 3D styling.

Jeff Preolo, David Stout, Levi Higgs, David Benavides
IndependentsJun 27, 2025
David Webb Announces New Hires, Promotions

Following its recent acquisition, the storied brand has updated its leadership team and regional managers.

Blake Graham and Jessica Kohoutek
Events & AwardsJun 27, 2025
AGS, GIA Announce Beatrice Shipley Scholarship Winner

AGS also named the recipient of its “Women in Leadership” scholarship.

Buddha Mama Monstera Ring
CollectionsJun 27, 2025
Piece of the Week: Buddha Mama’s ‘Monstera’ Wrap Ring

The 20-karat yellow gold and diamond wrap ring is modeled after the Monstera plants in the garden of the brand’s Miami villa.

Cashier handing Rocksbox bag to customer
MajorsJun 26, 2025
Why Rocksbox Is Opening Stores As Signet Jewelers Downsizes

Rocksbox President Allison Vigil shared the retailer’s expansion plans, and her thoughts on opening stores in malls.

Penny Ruston
IndependentsJun 26, 2025
Penny Ruston Dies at 80

The creator of the WJA Chicago chapter is remembered as a champion for women in the jewelry industry and a loving grandmother.

Stock image of woman shopping
SurveysJun 26, 2025
After Recovering in May, Consumer Confidence Dips in June

The decline was consistent across age groups and almost all income groups, with tariffs and inflation still top of mind.

Sorellina Playlist: Electric Dreams Campaign
CollectionsJun 26, 2025
Jam Out With Sorellina’s Jimi Hendrix-Inspired Jewels

The “Playlist: Electric Dreams” collection brings lyrics from the musician’s song, “Little Wing,” to life through fine jewelry.

The Jewelry Symposium event
Events & AwardsJun 26, 2025
The Jewelry Symposium Is Looking for Speakers for 2026 Event

The event is set for May 16-19 in Detroit, Michigan.

Exterior of Marissa Collections’ new store in Nantucket, Massachusetts
IndependentsJun 25, 2025
Marissa Collections Opens in Nantucket as Legal Fight Continues

The Vault’s Katherine Jetter is accusing the retailer of using info she shared for a potential partnership to move into Nantucket.

Counterfeit Cartier “Juste Un Clou” bracelet
CrimeJun 25, 2025
Customs Nabs Another Big Shipment of Fake Cartier, Van Cleef Jewelry

Agents seized 2,193 pieces, a mix of counterfeit Cartier “Love” and “Juste Un Clou” bracelets, and Van Cleef & Arpels’ “Alhambra” design.

Karine Choudhrie Big Splash Circus Starfish and Lantern Fish
CollectionsJun 25, 2025
Splash into Karina Choudhrie’s Collection of Underwater Circus Performers

The designer brought her children’s book, “The Big Splash Circus,” to life through a collection of playful fine jewelry characters.

Jewelers of America
Events & AwardsJun 25, 2025
JA Announces Impact Initiative Fund Recipients

The trade association has chosen the recipients of the funding initiative it formed to foster the growth and sustainability of the industry.

John Dyer Montana Sun Sapphire
SourcingJun 25, 2025
2025 AGTA Spectrum Awards Open for Entries

The organization has also announced this year’s slate of judges.

Lori Tucker
IndependentsJun 24, 2025
Colorado Bench Jeweler Celebrates 50 Years With Local Retailer

Lori Tucker started at Williams Jewelers when she was 18 years old.

“Marvel | Citizen Zenshin” watch for the new The Fantastic Four movie
WatchesJun 24, 2025
Citizen’s New ‘Fantastic Four’ Watch Is Literally Super

The “Marvel | Citizen Zenshin” watch is crafted in Super Titanium and has subtle nods to all four “Fantastic Four” superheroes on the dial.

×

This site uses cookies to give you the best online experience. By continuing to use & browse this site, we assume you agree to our Privacy Policy