Park official gives tips for diamond digging

Do you know how to dig for diamonds?

“It may seem like a silly question, but digging is one of the most important aspects of diamond searching. Simply knowing how to dig can greatly increase your chances of finding a diamond,” said Waymon Cox, park interpreter for Crater of Diamonds State Park near Murfreesboro, Ark.

The park’s diamond search area is plowed periodically to loosen the dirt. When it rains, water exposes heavier gravel at the surface while washing down loose soil and smaller rocks and minerals, he said.

“Diamonds are heavy for their size and are sometimes found on top of the ground after it rains. However, most diamonds end up deposited with small, heavy gravel in trenches and ditches throughout the field,” Cox said.

“Using a small hand shovel, you can take advantage of recent erosion by searching for diamonds just below the surface. Scrape a thin layer of soil from an area where water has washed down and turn it over. Spread the dirt with the shovel blade to look for gravel. Due to high amounts of iron, heavy rocks and minerals at the park are usually red or brown. Diamonds are also heavy for their size and may be found near these colorful rocks and minerals,” he said.

“In areas where more water collects, dig a little deeper. During a hard rain, water washes through the search area faster and collects more material. When water slows down or spreads out over flat areas, it drops heavy rocks and minerals first and covers them with layers of fine sand and silt. To find these hidden gravel caches, look for sand on the surface of the search area. Dig in a few inches with a shovel, and listen for the blade to scrape against rock. Scoop the gravel from these areas and sift it to search for diamonds,” Cox said.

The park has specific rules for digging holes deeper than four feet, and visitors who dig holes of any depth must refill them each day. For more information about digging and diamond searching in general, ask for a list of diamond mining rules and regulations from the park, he said.

“Scrape a thin layer of soil from an area where water has washed down and turn it over.” —Waymon Cox, park interpreter, Crater of Diamonds State Park