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Location: Arkansas
Discussion: Questions on Diamond hunting in Arkansas
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irshwitch |
Questions on Diamond hunting in Arkansas
May 31 2008, 9:32 PM EDT
My family and I are going on our first dig on the 6th of June. We planned to camp but can find no information as to how far the camp site is from the dig, what is best for first timers to bring, what to expect...you know, all the questions us newbies ask but cannot seem to fine answers to. If anyone has been on this dig and has any diamonds of wisdom they would like to share it would be much appreciated!!
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aubreyreynolds9@gmai |
1. RE: Questions on Diamond hunting in Arkansas
May 31 2008, 10:40 PM EDT
I have been to the Diamond Mine State Park several times. It is large wooded park on the Little Missouri River. There are 59 wooded camp sites some with utilities. The cost is $17 a night to camp. The Park has a museum, a cafe, a pravilon, and a Water Theme Park. There are hiking trails and of course the Crater of Diamonds. The 6th of June is not too late but July and August can be oppressive with heat and humidity. I would reserve all mining to the morning hours. The pipe itself has very little shade and the lamporite is a blue green clay which heats up quickly. Do other activities in the afternoon. You will be allowed to remove one 5 gallon bucket of material per person from the mine. Only two diamonds are found per day so finding a diamond is not a common occurance. To find dimonds; start by touring the museum and viewing the film on diamond hunting. You will need screens to wash the dirt. If you don't have any screens they can be rented at the mine. However, a security deposit is required. Some folks have been walking off with the screens. Dig a bucket of dirt and wash it in the sluice box at the mine. Look of slick greasy feeling smooth stones. Some will be diamond shaped others not.They will be mostly brown but various colors and clear stones can be found. The average stone is 1/4 carat but larger diamonds are found. If you are a rockhound there is plenty of multi colored jasper and agate at the mine. If it rains go out after the rain and set on a rise and look for a sparkle in the sun light. If you find a larger stone you could strike it rich. Serveral people this year have found large stones. But it not the norm. I have added links to the Crater of Diamonds and other prospecting opportunities on the Arkansas National Directory. Good luck and I know you will have fun. Things to bring : picks, shovels, 5 gallon buckets, screens, bug spray, sunscreen, hats, lots of water, small sandwich bags for your diamonds. A geologist is on site. Bill 2 out of 2 found this valuable. Do you? |
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irshwitch |
2. RE: Questions on Diamond hunting in Arkansas
Jun 1 2008, 10:03 AM EDT
WOW, what good information!! Can you tell me how far it is from the campsite to the dig and the water park? Should we bring our car or is it within walking distance?
1
out of
1 found this valuable.
Do you?
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aubreyreynolds9@gmai |
3. RE: Questions on Diamond hunting in Arkansas
Jun 1 2008, 2:00 PM EDT
"WOW, what good information!! Can you tell me how far it is from the campsite to the dig and the water park? Should we bring our car or is it within walking distance?"They are in walking distance of the campsites. I would contact the park in advance to see if there are available sites. Just north of the Diamond Mine is Lake Greeson. There are abounded cinnabar mines around Lake Greenson. Several parks are located on the lake with camping, fishing, boating and other water activities, About one hour drive from the mine is Mount Ida, the heart of the crystal mining district in Arkansas. You will travel through Caddo Gap if you go to Mount Ida. Stop at the Gap and visit the clear beautiful waters of the Caddo river and collect Novaculite for the kids tumble polisher. Bill 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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aubreyreynolds9@gmai |
4. RE: Questions on Diamond hunting in Arkansas
Jun 1 2008, 2:22 PM EDT
One additional thought, the jasper is all around the Crater. It has been tumble polished by the river and washed into the crater. For a tumble polisher look for smaller stones (some jasper cobbles can weigh several pound ). Find the jasper with serveral colors in the same stones. When polished in your tumbler they will be much more attractive than the single color stones. The agate is seam agate that is translucent with tight bands. The best are green, blue, or yellow, The gray agate does not look as attractive when finished. Bill 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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irshwitch |
5. RE: Questions on Diamond hunting in Arkansas
Jun 1 2008, 6:34 PM EDT
Thanks so much!! You have been a great help. We already have our campsite reserved, I stared planning this six months ago, so we will not have to worry about getting there and not having a place to stay. The kids are really looking forward to go rock hunting without me telling them "Put that down, it's just a common rock!" lol. I will post and let you know how it all went.
1
out of
1 found this valuable.
Do you?
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irshwitch |
6. RE: Questions on Diamond hunting in Arkansas
Jun 1 2008, 6:42 PM EDT
"One additional thought, the jasper is all around the Crater. It has been tumble polished by the river and washed into the crater. For a tumble polisher look for smaller stones (some jasper cobbles can weigh several pound ). Find the jasper with serveral colors in the same stones. When polished in your tumbler they will be much more attractive than the single color stones. The agate is seam agate that is translucent with tight bands. The best are green, blue, or yellow, The gray agate does not look as attractive when finished.What kinds of stones should we be keeping our eyes open for? 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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aubreyreynolds9@gmai |
7. RE: Questions on Diamond hunting in Arkansas
Jun 1 2008, 9:27 PM EDT
"What kinds of stones should we be keeping our eyes open for?"The jasper is easy to find. It is all over the place.Smooth pebbles to large cobbles. The museum has examples of what you should be looking for. There are displays of diamonds, japer, agate, and other pegmatite gems. If you are screening and you find are large amount of spinel (opaque black shiny grains) or pink garnet, then you are in a good spot. Stay with it. Bill 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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irshwitch |
8. RE: Questions on Diamond hunting in Arkansas
Jun 1 2008, 10:32 PM EDT
"The jasper is easy to find. It is all over the place.Smooth pebbles to large cobbles. The museum has examples of what you should be looking for. There are displays of diamonds, japer, agate, and other pegmatite gems. If you are screening and you find are large amount of spinel (opaque black shiny grains) or pink garnet, then you are in a good spot. Stay with it.Thanks so much Bill, because of you I think we are a bit more prepared and will have much more fun. You're a gem! Vanessa Do you find this valuable? |
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aubreyreynolds9@gmai |
9. RE: Questions on Diamond hunting in Arkansas
Jun 1 2008, 10:53 PM EDT
Your welcome, Have a great time and strike it rich. Last trip I made I meet Shirley Strawn who found a diamond that sold for $75000. It is on display at the museum. A friend of mine was the jeweler who designed the setting for the cut stone. It was a 3 carat rough that was the most perfect diamond ever found at the mine. She was mentored in finding diamonds by the legendary , Jim Archer. Jim has been featured in National Geographic, Readers Digest, ESPN and other articles. He was a true gentleman. He found more diamonds at the mine than any single person. There is a plaque remembering his 30 years mining the crater . He was always helpful to the tourist and serious prospector alike. Bill Let us know how many treasures you find, and remember the real treasure is the memories that you and your children will have 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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aubreyreynolds9@gmai |
10. RE: Questions on Diamond hunting in Arkansas
Jun 1 2008, 11:00 PM EDT
A tip I failed to mention. There are miners working the mine who have sites around the lower end of the crater. They are the regulars. Ask them if you can look through their tailing piles. The miners are digging deep holes and bringing up fresh rock. The best agate is found in the tailings piles. Keep that between you and me.Bill 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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irshwitch |
11. RE: Questions on Diamond hunting in Arkansas
Jun 2 2008, 9:54 AM EDT
"A tip I failed to mention. There are miners working the mine who have sites around the lower end of the crater. They are the regulars. Ask them if you can look through their tailing piles. The miners are digging deep holes and bringing up fresh rock. The best agate is found in the tailings piles. Keep that between you and me.Will do, and again a big THANKS! Vanessa Do you find this valuable? |
