Crater of Diamonds State Park is a great place for gem lovers to find their very own jewels amidst rubble and rock. A visitor to the park recently unearthed a 3.29-carat brown diamond, the largest discovery since September 2021.
David Anderson of Murfreesboro was wet-sifting soil from the park’s West Drain area when he spotted something shiny in the rocks. “At first I thought it was quartz but wondered why it was so shiny,” Anderson told park officials. “Once I picked it up, I realized it was a diamond!”
Anderson has been a frequent visitor to the park over the past 16 years and has found more than 400 diamonds during his time there. This includes one of his greatest discoveries, a 6.19-carat white diamond he found in April 2014.
According to the news release, Anderson has dubbed his latest treasure “B.U.D,” which stands for “Big, Ugly Diamond.”
Officials said Anderson’s diamond is the largest discovery at the park since a 4.38-carat yellow diamond was discovered back in September 2021.