Arkansas man paid $15 to hunt gems, found 6.03-carat diamond worth up to $1m
A Navy reservist found a 6.03-carat yellow diamond at Arkansas' Crater of Diamonds State Park while livestreaming on TikTok. The finder believes the gem could be worth $1 million, though professional appraisers suggest a more conservative valuation.
Why it matters
The story highlights the unique public access to diamond hunting in Arkansas and the viral nature of modern treasure hunting.
Jack Pearadin, a Navy reservist originally from Missouri, has been hunting diamonds at Arkansas’ Crater of Diamonds State Park since 2013. Over the years, he has unearthed more than 300 gems. But this time, when his shovel hit the gravel, he spotted something different. After rinsing the gravel and tipping it onto a table, he noticed a yellow crystal about the size of a fingernail catching the light. His TikTok livestream was still on, and this rock was a 6.03-carat diamond!‘Oh my God! Oh my God!’ Pearadin said during the livestream. ‘Holy cr*p, we got a big one!’ he yelled.It turns out it is the largest diamond found this year at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas. For Pearadin, it is unlike anything he has dug up before.
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