A routine family outing to Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas resulted in a significant find for Barry G. Smith, a grandfather from Tennessee, who discovered a 2.29-carat yellow diamond. The discovery was announced by Arkansas State Parks on August 29.
Smith was visiting the park with his two granddaughters, Sage and Juniper, and his wife on August 16. The family rented equipment and began searching for diamonds, a common activity at the park, which allows visitors to search for and keep any gemstones they find. After about 30 minutes of searching in the East Drain section, Smith noticed a glimmering object. Initially, he mistook it for mica, a common mineral. He placed the stone in his shirt pocket without giving it much further thought.
Gemstone Identification
It was not until Smith had the stone inspected at the park's Diamond Discovery Center that its true nature was revealed. Staff at the center confirmed that the glimmering object was a 2.29-carat yellow diamond. The find surprised park officials, including facility supervisor Ralph Hall, who noted its shape and color were reminiscent of other significant finds at the park.
Yellow diamonds are considered a rare variety among the stones found at Crater of Diamonds State Park. Most visitors typically discover brown or white diamonds. According to park information, yellow diamonds form when nitrogen is absorbed into the crystal structure during the diamond's formation. This nitrogen absorbs blue light and reflects yellow wavelengths, giving the gem its distinctive hue.
Smith expressed his excitement about the discovery, stating he never expected to find a diamond at the park, despite the possibility. He decided to name the diamond the Sage Juniper Diamond, in honor of his granddaughters.
Park Discoveries
The Sage Juniper Diamond is described as being about the size of a black-eyed pea and is the third-largest diamond found at the park in 2026. As of the announcement, 351 diamonds had been registered by park visitors that year, with an average of one to two diamonds found daily.
Arkansas State Parks officials stated that their employees are not trained to grade or appraise diamonds. They advise individuals interested in such services to consult certified gemologists. The estimated value of Smith's diamond was not released.
Crater of Diamonds State Park has been the site of several notable diamond discoveries in recent months. Earlier in August, a woman from Pennsylvania found a 3.09-carat diamond. A few months prior, a man from Texas unearthed a 2.09-carat brown diamond.