A father and son found a two-carat diamond while digging with a bucket and spade in a state park.
Will Barnett and his son Marshall were enjoying a road trip through Arkansas, US when they ventured into the Crater of Diamonds State Park.
Deciding to try their luck – with people occasionally spotting a jewel in fields around the eroded surface of a diamond-bearing volcano – they started digging in a ploughed patch.
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Using spades, the duo filled a few buckets with soil, and then went to the park’s pavilion to wet sift their dirt – an effective method of searching for diamonds.
Will spotted a glimmering gem at the bottom of his screen, and they took it to the park’s Diamond Discovery Center to identify it.
Incredibly, it was a two-carat rectangular shaped diamond, roughly the size of a pencil eraser, with a light brown colour, reports What’s The Jam.
Park Superintendent Caleb Howell said: “While examining the diamond, I looked out the office window and asked Mrs. Keys [a member of park staff] who the finders were, then said, ‘Wait, let me guess: they’re the ones shaking with excitement!’
“The first thing I noticed was two large facets that really shined when the light hit them just right.”
Many visitors choose to name the diamonds they find at Crater of Diamonds State Park.
As frequent gold panners, Will and Marshall came up with the name “Minor Find,” as Will often calls his son a “minor-miner.”
Will said of their visit: “It’s worth looking, even if you don’t find a diamond!”
Park Interpreter Ashlyn Keys said: “Wet sifting is one of the most effective methods to search for diamonds.
“The search area has two wash pavilions, with water troughs and tables, for visitors to wet sift.
“Using screens to separate dirt from the gravel allows you to go through more material in less time, giving a better chance of finding a diamond.
“You could tell they [the Barnett’s] knew they had found something special from the smiles on their faces.”
