Diamond found at Arkansas park

A New York woman spent three weeks digging at Crater of Diamonds State Park and found a 2.3 carat diamond for her engagement ring.

Woman finds 2.3-carat diamond at Arkansas park after three weeks of digging

A New York City resident named Micherre Fox spent nearly three weeks at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas. The park is the only public site where visitors can search for and keep any gems they find, and it has a long history of discoveries. Fox arrived on July 8 and worked in the park 37.5 acre search area. On her final day, she found a white colorless diamond weighing 2.3 carats, which a staff member at the Diamond Discovery Center later confirmed. Since 1972 the park has yielded more than 35,000 diamonds, including the 40.23 carat Uncle Sam. More than 350 diamonds have been found there this year.

Fox named the diamond the Fox Ballou Diamond after her and her partner with their last names, and she credited staff and fellow visitors for making the trip feel unforgettable. She says that there is a mix of luck and hard work in the find and that touching the dirt with her own hands made the moment feel real.

The story taps a timeless appeal: a tangible treasure found through personal effort. It shows gem hunting as an accessible, public activity that can turn a personal milestone into a local moment. The note that visitors may keep finds adds a unique incentive for tourism and for personal connection with nature.

At the same time the piece hints at questions about how public lands are used and how much environmental toll heavy digging might cause. It underlines the role of park staff in verification and of the community of visitors who share the quest. The overall idea is clear: luck, effort, and community matter in turning a dream into reality.

Highlights

The park will likely keep drawing hopeful treasure hunters.