Arkansas Gem Hunter Discovers 6-Carat Diamond Valued at $1 Million

Jack Pearadin, a Navy reservist and avid gem hunter, has discovered a 6.03-carat yellow diamond at Arkansas's Crater of Diamonds State Park, a find he believes could be worth $1 million. This discovery marks the largest diamond found at the park this year.

Pearadin, who has been searching for diamonds for over a decade, unearthed the gem earlier this year alongside a friend. He shared the moment of discovery via livestream on TikTok, expressing his astonishment at the size of the find. The diamond, roughly the size of a fingernail, has been unofficially named the "American Dream" by Pearadin.

While Pearadin is optimistic about its value, experienced appraisers suggest a diamond of this size and quality could be worth around $250,000. Certified gem appraiser Laura Stanley noted that while a typical quarter-carat diamond from the park might fetch $700, a high-quality six-carat yellow diamond could command a significantly higher price, partly due to its unique origin.

Crater of Diamonds State Park is one of the few places in the world where the public can mine for diamonds and keep their findings. The park charges a $15 entry fee for visitors to sift through the soil for gems. Since the former diamond mine became a state park in 1972, over 37,000 diamonds have been discovered there. The park typically sees between 400 to 800 diamonds found annually, with most weighing a quarter of a carat.

The largest diamond ever found in the United States, the 40.23-carat "Uncle Sam," was discovered at the park in 1924. More recently, a 9-carat diamond was found in 2020, and a 7-carat diamond was unearthed in 2024.

Diamonds are formed deep within the Earth under intense pressure and heat and are brought to the surface through volcanic activity. The United States has only two known primary diamond deposits: Crater of Diamonds in Arkansas and the reclaimed Kelsey Lake site in Colorado. The Arkansas park remains a unique public access point for diamond hunting.

Pearadin, originally from Missouri, has been a regular visitor to the park since 2013 and even relocated to nearby Murfreesboro to pursue his hobby. He plans to share the profits from his "American Dream" find with Michael Schumacher, who assisted in the discovery, and hopes to open his own crystal mine.