Arkansas Diamond Mining

Thousands of gem enthusiasts visit the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas, each year. It is one of the only places in the world where the public can dig for and keep their diamonds. As many as 800 diamonds are found each year by visitors who pay $15 to fill buckets of gravel. Jack Pearadin has been searching for a dozen years and found hundreds of gems, but none so big as the 6-carat diamond he found this year. He's calling it “American Dream” and claims collectors have told him it could be worth $1 million. An independent appraiser says such a rock could sell for about $250,000 — still an impressive find.