So why should this past Saturday be any different? Early in the morning Jameson and I piled into the truck, drove about an hour through the thick woods of Arkansas and arrived at our destination, Crater of Diamonds State Park. Our objective for the day (Yes, you've got it) find "shiny objects."
Crater of Diamonds State Park is 72 miles south west of Hot Springs Arkansas. This 37-acre park is the home of a former volcano and is the only public diamond mine in existence. Any person who pays to enter the park is permitted to search for their riches and keep their findings. The largest diamond found at the park was 42 carats, however, finding diamonds 1 to 2 carat in size is not uncommon. The diamonds range in color from brown, yellow to white.
For further understanding of how diamonds are created and why the park exists, the following is from the Crater of Diamonds State Park website.
"Ever wonder why the earth produces diamond mines and why we have a field in Arkansas where diamonds are found? The story of the diamonds found at the Crater of Diamonds State Park begins over 3 billion years ago with the formation of diamonds as the stable form of carbon in the earth’s mantle. At the tremendous pressures and temperatures some 60 to 100 miles below the earth’s surface, diamond crystallized from carbon, and under those conditions it remained stable.
"During the past 3 billion years, many geologic changes have taken place on the surface of the earth. Crust formed and was destroyed, continents formed and migrated, and mountain ranges were built and eroded away. About 300 to 250 million years ago, the continent we now call South America collided with the southern portion of present day North America. This collision formed the Ouachita Mountains from sediments that were deposited in a deep ocean environment. The Ouachitas began to erode and during the Cretaceous Period (144 to 66 million years ago), the southern area of this eroded mountain range was covered by seas and the area of the Park was near-shore, but under shallow seawater. About 100 million years ago, an instability in the Earth’s mantle caused the movement of gas and rock to the surface. This volcanic vent, known as the “Prairie Creek” diatreme by geologists, rose rapidly through the upper mantle and crust, carrying with it fragments of mantle and crustal rocks and minerals, until it came near enough to the surface to explode due to the release of gases. When it exploded, it created an 83-acre funnel-shaped crater with sides sloping inward at about 45 degrees. Much of the airborne material formed by the initial explosion fell back into the vent. The speed of rise of the mass allowed the diamonds to be preserved in this material.
"Geologists calculate that only about 160 feet of the original vent has been eroded away, concentrating the heavy minerals, including diamond, in the present day soil. At the Crater, diamonds are often found loose in the soil, having been released during the rapid weathering of this unstable mantle rock."
After wandering the field for a few endless minutes, the ideal spot found us. Jameson and I squatted on the turned over dirt, pulled out our mining shovels and began sifting dirt through the screens. With the sun beating down and the field feeling more like a day on Venus, the heat is getting to us. Bucket after bucket we sifted through dirt with no diamonds found. Moments turn into longer moments. Sweat pouring down Jameson's face; we ponder our possibility of failure. I, sweating in a very unladylike fashion, determined we needed to change direction. Wet screening!
Wet screening is a similar process to regular dirty screening; instead, water is used to separate rocks from loose dirt. This process is good for finding smaller diamonds. Additionally, wet screening is performed in a small water trough in a covered building. Considering the incredible heat, adding water and overhead cover to the equation was an excellent idea we both quickly welcomed. Once again, bucket after bucket nothing. Frustration set in. Hours had passed when Jameson finally found a rock we felt was worthy of saving. Shortly thereafter I found a rock we felt worthy of saving. At the end of 4 tiresome hours, Jameson and I proudly collected 10 rocks we felt worth saving!! Hurrah!!!
Tired, frustrated and a little excited to identify the names of our riches, Jameson and I picked up our mining tools and called it a day. We returned our tools, then placed our treasures on the local geologist's desk. Anxiously we waited to be told the enormous value and identity of our gems. She methodically poured over our stones, carefully placing each into one of two categories. With an exaggerated breath and small smile, the geologist revealed our findings - Jasper and Calcite. No diamonds. Value - Very pretty rocks. Laymen break down - River rocks.
Alas, nothing shiny. Nothing of monetary value. Though riches were not made, our day together was beyond any measurable value. As we drove home discussing "what could have been," our conversation quickly died when we noticed a huge sign selling 12 oysters for $10! Oysters in Arkansas? Why not?!?! Yep, "shiny objects" misdirected us again.
Thank you for reading!! LoLa xoxoxox
