Lucky Colorado State Park Visitor Finds 8.52 Carat Diamond

Bobbie Oskarson of Longmont, Colorado, was the lucky finder of an 8.52 carat diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas. She found it after only 20 minutes of search.

Crater of Diamonds State Park, the world’s only diamond-producing site that is open to the public, received the visit of Ms. Oskarson and her boyfriend on June 24th. She started hunting for diamonds in a 37 ½ acre area of the park named the “Pig Pen”, which suitably received the moniker due to its muddy conditions. After 20 minutes, she was fortunate to find the gem, the fifth largest diamond found by a visitor of the park since its establishment in 1972.

The diamond, described as “stunning, sparkling with a metallic shine” by Park Interpreter Waymon Cox, is about three quarters of an inch long, and similar to a No. 2 pencil in width.

Ms. Oskarson plans to keep the gem, which she named “Esperanza Diamond”. The word “Esperanza” is the Spanish translation of the word “hope”, and also the name of the finder’s niece.

Image Copyright: State Park – Arkansas State Parks