Success Finding Diamonds at the Crater of Diamonds State Park

An in-depth video on how to use one of the most popular methods to find genuine Arkansas diamonds at the Crater of Diamonds State Park, in Murfreesboro, AR. This video includes examples of what material to look for, and how to wet sift.
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60-Inch Steel Probing Rod (for helping you find that sweet pocket of gravel): amzn.to/3hg4m2f
5 Piece Stackable Screen Set that you can use to easily classify gravel by size, right into a 5-gallon bucket: amzn.to/302FWDn
38.7" x 20" Poly Gorilla Cart, holds water with some sealant. You can set up your own wash station with this one, or use it to haul material: amzn.to/3jHIej8
Milk Crates to use as a wet breakdown, saves your screens from big rocks: amzn.to/3hshn9m
Gorilla Cart, steel 6 cu ft, hauls heavy buckets around nicely: amzn.to/3jh6wzE
Lightweight rubber boots to keep your feet dry: amzn.to/2YtFCMT
Waterproof Vinyl Apron, stay dry during the winter, or clean during the summer: amzn.to/316Znuj
Heavy Duty Latex Gloves, to keep your hands somewhat dry in the cold of winter: amzn.to/2XiC1Rl
Vinyl Coated cotton gloves to help protect your hands from nails and glass: amzn.to/3lk0wYn
Small, Battery operated Diamond Tester: amzn.to/3g4pxUw
Fiskars Long Handled Shovel Steel Round Point: amzn.to/306sEpv
TABOR TOOLS 20" Shovel, short shovel can be easier to handle in a hole or while washing in a wash pavilion: amzn.to/2OY9Ims
Heavy Duty pick axe for loosening the lamproite or Gravel: amzn.to/3lihbvD
Sliding pocket magnifier with light/blacklight for checking gravel at home: amzn.to/2QC76f3
Jewelers loupe that you can carry with you to the mine: amzn.to/2FWIj38
Flat bottom feed scoop for handling gravel easily and securely: amzn.to/2EgNV7X
Clamp on lighted magnifier for checking take home gravel: amzn.to/32kKFQO
Plastic container to keep small stones you find safe: amzn.to/3jqMK4P
My recording equipment:
Canon Vixia HF R800: amzn.to/34w1b30
GoPro Hero 7 Silver: amzn.to/2Erh0xh
GoPro Bundle Pkg: amzn.to/3jeTnH2
Tri-Pod with mount: amzn.to/3htjx8t
Takstar SGC-598 Mic w/windscreen: amzn.to/3aVaDOJ
USB Microscope to inspect what you find: amzn.to/2YyDao9
10’ Shade canopy for shade in the blistering heat of the search field: amzn.to/33Xu46v

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

Hey guys, within the video descriptions I have included links to the tools and equipment that I use, along with many other items you see in the videos. Check them out!

[@wendyalza6544]

Cómo puedo saber cuál piedra es un diamante, pues todas se ven iguales para mi, cómo se ve un diamante y cómo sabré que es uno de estos, cuánto cuesta la entrada al parque y cómo saber dónde buscar?

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

Wendy Alza una diamante es mas facil a ver. Ver un poco como metal normalmente. El gresto de los minerales no tienen characteristics de diamante como lados suaves. La cuesta de entrada es $10 por dia, y al momento, no renta la equipemente. Hay jente al lado de calle que venden muchas cosas para usar. Buena suerte!!!

[@fatimabonda2715]

When can you answer me how to do to garbing there?

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

@@fatimabonda2715 i do not understand your question

[@AdamXtreme1]

I found a dime in my screen set while I was there, so I guess I didn't walk away empty handed haha. I'm going back again next month!

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

Ha! Awesome!!😂

[@jitreggieoffical6028]

Im from zimbabwe and i got places that we can find big diamonds but it in my rural areas i found one at the area it was like 6 carats green one with trigons every where i sold it for 950 usd

[@jloredo08]

Had always wanted to go there being a trucker and passing that area for years. Finally made it out there with family and gotta say it was worth the 7 hour drive from Texas. Came prepared with mud boots for everyone and a bucket. Had to rent screens and shovel but they don't over charge for them. Calcite in the finds but either way hell of way to spend day out after a good rain around crater and nice cool weather on Dec 31st 2022. Could spend days out there if I didn't have to go back to work.

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

Glad you had a great time!! I hope the videos helped you to prepare a bit!!

[@ScottLRoyal]

Nice job with your videos and sharing your technique(s) with us. It'll most likely be 2021 before i get back down there again. Did a lot of rock hunting in Maine as a kid. Tourmaline, beryl, garnets, purple appetite. I almost want to move to AK for a year and dedicate the weekends to wet sifting. Best of luck.

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

Maybe we will run into each other when you are down here.

[@janetphillips2875]

Went last month. It was 104° one day. Brought home our tailings. We may have a diamond! This was our second trip. This is very hard work, so try and find ways ti make it easier on you. You will be digging and carrying buckets of dirt, if youre serious about finding one. We met a guy who goes every week, and he says he finds one a week.

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

The heat there is brutal for sure. Hope you indeed have one!!!!

[@SomeBuddy777]

Your channel is fantastic! It's a gem 💎

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

Some Buddy thank you! I hope the videos help!

[@schenckdollify]

Thank you for the advice! Excited to try this technique for diamond hunting!

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

Good luck out there, thanks for watching!!

[@hyperhighdrosis7557]

Thanks for the information I plan on going next spring to search thank you

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

Good luck!!!

[@fishingwithfredo2639]

Another video full of great tips thank you again sir I am enjoying your Channel😁😁😁😁👍👍👍👍👍

[@gingerlylivin2142]

Tomorrow me and my mum and grandma is going to go here!

[@gingerlylivin2142]

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[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

Good luck!!!

[@SomeBuddy777]

Got a birds eye view and some very good tips. Planning a trip to the Natcherall State in a few months. Have always wanted to see how the planted all them sparklers and if they used non gmo seeds 🤣

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@eyeone2]

Really thank you for ur videos very helpful 👍been to crater of diamonds twice but didnt do it right now I can be better thanks again

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

Sama thank you for watching! I hope you find a big one on your next visit!

[@kathyculwell1282]

Ooooh where were you when I went my 1st and only time a few years ago!! You've filled me with so much knowledge that now, I have the much needed confidence to try again, and now I HAVE to go back!!! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for taking the time and patience to make a perfect informative video!! I'm sending you a big ole Texas Hug!!

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

Kathy Culwell thank you! I am glad you enjoyed the videos. I hope you find a BIG one when you make it back!

[@EricSNeitzel]

Very good video! Thank you!!!

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

Eric Neitzel thank you for watching!

[@mattfoley2315]

Great video,, us going to be first timers and old.😅 are 12 in by 12in sifters big enough. Just to go out and have fun. Thanks Matt

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

You can use smaller sifters. You will be very limited on what you can process, but they will work.

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

Good luck out there!!!

[@brandypresley1869]

You make it look so easy!😂 i can never get mine to the center that easy

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

It does take a little practice! It also helps to have a good tight screen. If there is a lot of give to the screen, it can bounce enough to scatter the heavies a bit.

[@mityjoeyoung8855]

Those are some nice centers

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

Thanks! Takes a bit of practice and a good flat screen.

[@MMProspecting]

Great job on explaining thank you

[@hannahbosse1191]

Can you show us a still shot of good material? I have watched all of the videos but I just can’t seem to see it!

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

Most people say it looks like kitty litter. It is smaller that pea gravel, but larger in size than grains of sand.

[@homesteadaquarius]

I would never think I had all the good stuff out of a center and would want to look at every little pebble. I keep hearing how many dont make it to the center. You have good technique though.

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

You are correct for sure! There is always a chance that one will be outside of the center, usually a flat one.

[@cbee5895]

Well made video, thank you!

[@DanielMillerlife]

You got the technique down well.

[@christianpaul3303]

Will be visiting the park in a month. Thanks for the video! How did you get water to your site?

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

There are a couple options for water if you set up your own wash station. There are two hose spigots, one east and one west of the search field that you could hook a hose to. There are a couple streams the will have some water running that you could utilize, and lastly, you could use buckets to take water from the troughs at the wash pavilions. Good luck on your visit!!!

[@ralphwatson7036]

If the alluvial fan material is dry and loose like in this video, is dry sifting a viable option?

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

It is an option, but the advantages of wet sifting over dry sifting is that you can use the specific gravity to separate material. Concentration of the heavier minerals helps narrow the amount of stuff you have to go through to find one.

[@DiamondMinerIvins]

Welcome! Hope you find a big one!!

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

Thank you sir!

[@vicentehernandez6165]

TANTAS?BELLEZAS?QUE DIOS ASE CONPAÑEROS?🌈🌈♥🙌♥🌈🌈

[@nancycano9887]

Thank you for sharing, I have a question. If you do get lucky and find a diamond where do you sell it? Can you please advised where to go or if you need to fill any kind of documentation, and what do you need to do before a you sell it. Thank you

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

If you do decide to sell one that you have found, they are easily sold to one of the shops in town. Alternatively, you can sell it yourself in any manner you choose. I would highly recommend having it registered at the park though (I have a video on this here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hILVeoOYbdeGgNE ). This will help prove it's authenticity as an Arkansas diamond, making it a bit more valuable.

[@DiamondMinerIvins]

The diamonds become more valuable the farther away you get from the diamond mine. If you sell it to a store locally or any of the locals they only want to offer about nine dollars per point. The millionaire Sam Johnson try to get my one carat for $800. It sold for $2500.00 two years later.

[@jordanlawrence6968]

Is there a rule of thumb for where you should set up a canopy to wet sift? Or just anywhere works?

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

You are free to set up a canopy wherever you choose, but it needs to be tied down.

[@nursekimiko]

Very informative! We will be going there very soon but the site is not currently renting out tools. You mentioned they sell the mesh strainers locally. What store can they be bought from? Thank you in advance

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

There are a few vendors along the road from the town square headed to the mine, as well as Crater Diamond Classics, and the hardware store. Some of these rent the screens and give lessons on how to use them. Good Luck, and thanks for watching!

[@nursekimiko]

Thank you 😊

[@ApolloAJC]

You mentioned in the video that there are other places around Murfreesboro that sell sifting sets/equipment. Since the park has temporarily stopped renting equipment (Covid19) - where would you suggest picking up some essentials?

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

There is a family that sells them in adult and kids sizes as you leave the town square headed to the park. There is a couple that sells equipment and teaches how to center as well, they are shown in the custom screens video. They are all very nice people.

[@ApolloAJC]

@@TheArkansasDiamondMiner Thanks - will definitely check them out!

[@bethbartlett5692]

*Nice Tutorial Value in this Video.* Well done.

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

Beth Bartlett Thank you, I am glad you enjoyed my video!

[@georgezink6338]

Are you allowed to use wagon to transport your buckets to water area

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

George Zink yes, you are. You can even rent them there at the park for use for a day, along with almost anything else you would want to use.

[@The_VRT]

Very good first video! Slow down when panning the camera around so we don't get dizzy, pause at what you want us to see. Can you touch on what you can and cannot bring into the park to work with as well as the do's and don'ts if you know of any. We see hoses in the background, do they have water spigots to attach to?

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

There are a few water spigots within the search area. The park generally frowns if you stretch a hose across the search area, and they also keep an eye on water usage by an individual. They try to keep a level playing field for those mining and searching, so any hint of hydraulic sluicing would get axed pretty quick.

[@MrSgtau]

I'll be visiting this place in late November. Unfortunately, the park is not renting any equipment now due to Covid-19. Ok, so I will buy a couple sifters with different meshes down to ultrafine. Did you have to bring your own buckets, or are there some there that you can use?

[@MrSgtau]

I guess I can just pick up some 5 gallon buckets at Home Depot. It doesn't seem as though I need to buy too much equipment. Thanks for the helpful video.

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

The park is not currently supplying any type of equipment, so you would need to bring buckets or buy them locally. Good luck on your visit!

[@JustPlainCommonSense]

I wish we had watched this before we went. Maybe I’ll give your method a shot next time. Thanks!!! Subbed

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

Thank you for watching and subscribing! Wet sifting can be a lot of work, but it is usually more productive. I hope you have good luck on your next visit!

[@DiamondMinerIvins]

It’s a method that has been used for over 50 years. 😁

[@DeadlyChinchilla]

This is so interesting. Do you do this for the money, or as a hobby? I'm an amateur, but would love to visit and dig for a couple days. What would you say the chance of my finding something would be? It's a 12 hour drive one way, so I'd hate to find nothing!

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

I do this as a hobby. It is fun to hunt diamonds, as with any other form of rockhounding, and there is always a chance of finding one if you can study well enough before you go. With preparation, your chances go up considerably, and occasionally, some one will find one just on the surface while walking and searching. As far as odds of finding one, you truly never know. I can assure you that people have thrown out diamonds that they didn’t recognize after having done everything else right, and some people just have luck. A couple days of focusing on running gravel could easily turn one up, but there is never a guarantee. If you do visit, Best of luck to you!

[@alphamale3643]

What if you made a strong vibrating machine, and used it on the bucket with some water in it, and all the heavy material will go to the bottom of the bucket, then remove the upper layer of the material, and then dump the bucket upside down.

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

There are machines built to do just that, but within the park you are only allowed manually powered processes to recover diamonds.

[@latteete143]

Weldone sir and good luck

[@EddieSchirmer]

so how did you fill up your large tubs? i saw you had hose with you, is that an option? where would you hook your hose in? and are their restrictions to how you use your hose at the mine?

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

Eddie Schirmer i sometimes use the hose if it is near one of the two water spigots, other times i carry water from a wash station or make a pond in one of the streams flowing through the search field. It really depends on what is the most convenient. As far as restrictions, i am unsure of how they police water usage from a hose. I would bet that if a person were hydraulic sluicing, they would be shut down fairly quickly. Most everyone shares the hose spigots with a splitter if they hook in their hose as common courtesy.

[@EddieSchirmer]

@@TheArkansasDiamondMiner awesome, thanks for the reply. i figured, if at some point i might return for a longer term trip, i might consider bringing my own tubs to wash into, and process in bulk, and having a hose to get water from would be a nice thing to have. the last trip i went up there, we saw a guy actually single handedly fill up an entire wash basin! it was crazy, one of the park guide or maintenance fellows had to empty it out Mid Day... thats some serious dedication there. and he had to have washed a Couple hundred buckets alone. haha. cheers, and hope you find more diamonds, and i be working to find some someday too =)

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

Eddie Schirmer best of luck to you!!!

[@sjflynn2010]

I am presuming the green tint is actually ash from the volcano ?

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

SAM Flynn volcanic lamproite. It varies in color from one part to the next.

[@DiamondMinerIvins]

yes, the green rocks are the volcanic ask. there is a layer of green soil 4-5 feet down. find that, you’ll probably find some nice yellow diamonds

[@GermanShepherdRanch]

Great video. New subscriber

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

German Shepherd Ranch terrific! I am glad you enjoyed it, and thank you for subscribing!

[@GermanShepherdRanch]

The Arkansas Diamond Miner I really like how you do things step by step and show people. I went crystal digging yesterday and did great. I’m planning to hunt for diamonds within the month.

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

@@GermanShepherdRanch I hope they open the Crater of Diamonds soon! Hopefully, I will run into you there when you visit!

[@GermanShepherdRanch]

The Arkansas Diamond Miner I’d like that. Maybe we could do a collaboration on our channels. I have about 2200 subs.

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

@@GermanShepherdRanch Absolutely!

[@Outdoors4adventure]

Thanks for sharing. We haven't been there yet.😀👍

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

Any plans to go in the near future?

[@Outdoors4adventure]

@@TheArkansasDiamondMiner We are going to try to work it in. Not sure when. Thanks.

[@MartinSoundLabs]

I'm a fan of alluvial fans

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

Ha!

[@mityjoeyoung8855]

diamonds almost have a metallic sheen to it correct ?

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

That is correct.

[@rollonbc]

Heard lots of talk. Never saw a diamond. Hope you found a few rough diamonds after all that work

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

Thanks. I have a few other videos where I have found diamonds. I found one on the surface a little over month ago while filming.

[@DiamondMinerIvins]

The screens at some of the places in town, might last 2-3 trips mining, if you’re lucky. Cheap material.

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

Diamond Miner Ivins I don’t have much experience with any screens other than those that i bought from the gentleman along 301 heading to the mine. I have a few sets he made, one of which is 12 years old. Still fully functional. His are of superb quality.

[@DiamondMinerIvins]

Gotta start somewhere! I started in 2012, I rented the parks screens, my first two trips. Noticed a man from Florida had his own custom screens made. I went to the drawing board!! Bigger the better!!

[@DiamondMinerIvins]

The man along the high actually has the better screen for sale! There are a few places in town, that people are just giving their money away.

[@yirehmiyahmagsayo361]

wow what a diamond place, why so hard to find diamond in the video sir?

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

The diamonds here are relatively small. They are still being exposed by erosion, which is a slow process. Thanks for watching!

[@yirehmiyahmagsayo361]

The Arkansas Diamond Miner i hope sir, diamond also can be found too, how i wish too, yeah i watch you r video, how happy and excitement to find a diamond, thank you sir

[@yirehmiyahmagsayo361]

The Arkansas Diamond Miner hello, is that small as small peeble, little bit like a sand crystal stone, some are small like a small bit biiger sand as size of 1 rice granule, as small as that sir?

[@Atonement-]

bro, any wildlife to be concerned about with the toddlers or no

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

Atonement 2018-2028 there are snakes on the search field on occasion. Not always venomous, but you would still need to be conscious that the threat is there. There are parts of the search field that will grow grass and shrubbery that can hide a snake from view.

[@ManMountainMetals]

New sub. You should dig deeper, diamonds burrow in the heat.😂😂😂

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

Man Mountain Link in the summer, if you dig deep, the breeze goes right over you and you just bake in the hole you dig. It is pretty intense heat there sometimes.

[@agoroyagoroy517]

How come there's a lot of diamonds in that place

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

tweety carmona this was the result of a volcanic event that brought diamonds to the surface from deep within the earths crust. Many years of erosion have flattened the area, so it no longer looks like a crater.

[@vicentehernandez6165]

🌈🌈🌈🌈♥🙌♥🌈🌈🌈🌈

[@MJ-iy4fb]

Look likes you have your technique down. I am curious if you ever make any money off the diamonds you find?

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

MJ i have never tried to sell one. It would take a pretty big one for me to break even though!

[@donnaarmenia2062]

Very inter e sting

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching!

[@labonimridha6349]

Are you found any diamond?

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

I have found a few, thanks for watching!

[@labonimridha6349]

@@TheArkansasDiamondMiner you are really great... Cause you give your ideas every like giving reply.....

[@fatimabonda2715]

want a helper😀

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

😂. Thanks for the offer!

[@TD402dd]

With so many people looking, the larger diamonds must all be gone.

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

There are larger ones found almost yearly. Many feet of loose soil lay on top of the hardpan, and that hardpan is slowly softening, constantly freeing more diamonds as well. So thousands of tons covering almost 40 open acres of search area with nature slowly adding more searchable soil, we’ll never run out.

[@davidhardcore704]

Best way to find diamonds at this place is to bring nothing! Seems the best luck came from ppl literally just looking at the ground and finding them on the surface. Can't believe how many kids found some. I need to make a trip one day.

[@The_VRT]

Yeah, some of us get burned by those who get lucky enough to get an eyeball find right in front of us..... An old mid 1800's dime comes to mind for me.....

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

David Hardcore absolutely!! That is a very easy way to find them. It is less productive but the diamonds are easy to see in the right light. The bigger ones are easier to see, that is why they usually picked up by surface hunters. I think statistically, about 1 out of every 10 diamonds registered are surface finds.

[@ScottLRoyal]

If I remember correctly 70% of the diamonds found here are from wet sifting. My best luck was when the couple from Arizona, when she showed me how to wet sift. A couple hours later and I found a 2 pt. diamond. I was wet sifting material from the drain channel from the shortest wash tub at the north pavillion. I'll stick to the wet sifting. Best of luck with the surface searching. Surface searching after a large rain is supposed to be productive.

[@masterafricankingofjamenos1645]

always use gloves

[@TheArkansasDiamondMiner]

I do have a pair of coated gloves that I use at times, but I usually forget!

[@DiamondMinerIvins]

So much glass and metal!! It’s a good idea!!