The jellybean-sized piece of “glass” tucked away in Jerry Evans’s pocket caused an unexpected stir in the Evans household after he recently received some riveting news.
The fragment had the potential to be something far more precious, he learned.
That clear, candy-sized object shaped like a pyramid looked inconspicuous enough. Mr. Evans had pocketed it after spotting the sparkling bit and picking it from some freshly tilled soil in a state park last spring.
Given the park’s history, he wagered, it was worth a second look.
The park’s volcanic origins are well known. It lay in an old dormant crater near Murfreesboro, Arkansas, and Mr. Evans, from Lepanto, couldn’t help but think the object might be more than a piece of broken glass bottle.
He knew the park’s history. A farmer named John Huddleson had owned the land before it became a state park in 1972, and from the eroded volcanic soil of that plot, he unearthed the first of the diamonds it would yield. Over the years, more than 75,000 diamonds have been found here by various prospectors—including hundreds of park visitors today.
The largest diamond ever discovered in America was uncovered here during a mining operation in 1924.
Mr. Evans couldn’t help but wonder about the “glass” bit in his pocket. Could it be something more? Was it, a diamond?
Returning home, curiosity got the better of him, and he had the triangular object sent off to be checked out by the Gemological Institute of America for identification.
He discovered the truth a few weeks later. Hearing back from the institute, he learned what it was: none other than a near colorless 4.87-carat diamond. “When they called and told me it was real, I was tickled to death!” he later told the park.
“Mr. Evans’s diamond is spectacular to see. It’s a complete crystal with a brilliant white color reminiscent of many other large, white diamonds I’ve seen from here in the past,” assistant park superintendent Waymon Cox said in a statement, adding that Mr. Evans is the first visitor to reach out after identifying a diamond through the gemological institute.
“I’m glad that Mr. Evans was able to bring his historic diamond back to the park to have it officially registered.”
Park visitors may keep what they find.
This year so far, 798 diamonds have been registered at Crater of Diamonds, totaling over 125 carats, at the time of writing. That’s roughly 1 to 2 diamonds found in the park’s 37.5-acre search area per day.
Following park tradition, Mr. Evans gave his a name, calling it the Evans Diamond. It’s the second largest discovered in the park since a 9.07-carat brown diamond was found by Kevin Kinard of Maumelle on Labor Day in 2020.
“Come and search, because there’s a chance,“ Mr. Evans said. ”They’re out there!”
