Family ends vacation at Crater of Diamonds
MURFREESBORO — Katie Goodman, 6, of Greenville, Texas, found new items to add to her varied collection while on a recent visit to the Crater of Diamonds State Park with her family.
Goodman, who collects items like berries, sticks, flowers, nuts and acorns and keeps them on her front porch, was on a family vacation with her mother, Jennie Goodman, father, Trevor Goodman, and brother, Noah Goodman, 11.
Katie Goodman discovered large pieces of jasper to add to her collection, and her brother added jasper and a few pieces of calcite to his bag of rocks and minerals to take home. His advice for other children planning a trip to the park is if they are looking for a diamond “don’t give up and keep looking.”
The family said visitors should arrive early in the day, bring lots of water and a shade structure to stay out of the sun.
Crater of Diamonds State Park, which is located on Highway 301 in Murfreesboro, is open daily year-round. The park closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. The park’s staff provides free identification and certification of diamonds.
Call 870-285-3113 or email CraterofDiamonds@arkansas.com for more information.
Recent diamond finds include the following (100 points equals 1 carat):
• Alex Schneekloth, Texarkana, Texas, 23-point brown. • Adam Hardin, Murfreesboro, 3-point yellow. • Richard Meador, Midland, 3-point yellow, 4-point white
• Joshua Richardson, Lafayette, La., 6-point white