Crater of Diamonds State Park: Searching for Gems

MURFREESBORO, Ark. - Denis Tyrrell was walking past a hole he'd filled in while searching for gems at Crater of Diamonds State Park, when he saw a sparkle. The 3.48-carat diamond turned out to the biggest... diamond Tyrrell had found in regular digs that he began in March...

Crater of Diamonds State Park, which opened in 1972, is the world's only diamond-producing site open to the public. Visitors can keep the gems they unearth. The largest diamond found at the park was the 16.37-carat Amarillo Starlight, a white diamond found by a Texas visitor in 1975.

(Denis) Tyrrell said that when he found the diamond he first cleaned it, then put it in his mouth, "under my tongue." Then he headed for the visitors center.

"They always know when I'm coming with something," he said. "It was a very exciting day."