Man finds 2.09-carat diamond at Arkansas park during family trip

James Ward found a 2.09-carat brown diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas on Dec. 30 while visiting with his wife and two sons; park officials said crater diamonds form in the upper mantle and are brought to the surface by ancient volcanic pipes.

James Ward, 41, was visiting Crater of Diamonds State Park in Pike County, Arkansas with his wife, Elizabeth, and their two young sons when he uncovered a brown diamond on Dec. 30. The trip began after the family's seven-year-old asked about places to mine for crystals and Mrs. Ward searched for nearby options. The gem, called the Ward Diamond, was reported as 2.09 carats and was found on the family's second day at the park. Park staff provided context about how crater diamonds form and the park's role in identifying finds. Key details: - Finder: James Ward, 41, of Cypress, Texas, visiting with his wife Elizabeth and sons Adrian (9) and Austin (7). - Date and place: Found Dec. 30 at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Pike County, Arkansas. - Size and description: Reported as a 2.09-carat brown diamond with a dark yellowish-brown hue and a metallic luster; an assistant park superintendent compared its appearance to a corn kernel. - Geological note: Park staff said crater diamonds formed in Earth’s upper mantle and were carried to the surface by an ancient volcanic pipe. - Next steps and appraisal: Ward said he is open to selling or keeping the stone; Arkansas State Parks said staff identify and register diamonds but are not trained to grade or appraise them, and that certified gemologists perform formal grading. Summary: The discovery joins other visitor finds at Crater of Diamonds State Park and highlights the kinds of gems that can be uncovered by park guests. The owner has not decided whether to sell the stone, and formal grading or appraisal would be done by a certified gemologist rather than park staff. Undetermined at this time.