A woman’s hard work finally paid off at an Arkansas state park after she spent weeks searching for a diamond to turn into an engagement ring.

Micherre Fox, 31, originally from New York City, found the 2.30-carat white diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park in southwestern Arkansas, the state park shared in a news release.

She first decided about two years ago that she wanted to find her own diamond, the park said. Her partner agreed to wait to get engaged until she found the gem.

“There’s something symbolic about being able to solve problems with money, but sometimes money runs out in a marriage,” Fox said in the press release. “You need to be willing and able to solve those problems with hard work.” 

‘It was the most diamond-y diamond I had seen’

The recent graduate took a break for a month to search for a diamond. 

“I was willing to go anywhere in the world to make that happen,” she said in the press release. “I researched, and it turned out that the only place in the world to do it was right in our backyard, in Arkansas!”

She took two weeks to prepare for her search, during which she conducted research, and then went to the park on July 8. It wasn’t until the morning of July 29 that she came across her soon-to-be engagement diamond. 

It was about 11 a.m. that day, and Fox was taking a stroll along the West Drain of the park’s 37.5-acre diamond search area when she saw something by her feet. She initially thought it was a dew-covered spiderweb and pushed it with her foot, but it kept shining, the park said,

Once Fox realized it was a stone, she picked it up.

“‘It was the most diamond-y diamond I had seen’,” she said in the press release.

The park has a Diamond Discovery Center, where Fox headed after she found the diamond. Staff told her she’d found a white or colorless diamond that weighed more than two carats.

“I got on my knees and cried, then started laughing,” she recalled.

According to the park, the diamond is about the size of a human canine tooth. This year, the smooth, rounded, metallic gem is the third-largest diamond found so far, the park said.

Previous finds at Crater of Diamonds State Park

Crater of Diamonds State Park is the site of the eroded surface of a volcanic crater, allowing visitors to find rocks, minerals and gemstones, the park said.

According to the staff at Crater of Diamonds State Park, farmer John Huddleston found the first diamonds there in 1906. Since then, visitors have found over 75,000 diamonds.

There have been previous diamond discoveries at Crater of Diamonds State Park covered by USA TODAY and the USA TODAY Network which include:

April 2022 – A man found a coffee-color brown 2.38-carat diamond.September 2023 – A 7-year-old girl found a 2.95-carat golden brown carat diamond during a birthday trip to the park.Spring 2023 – A man found a 4.87-carat diamond, the largest to be found in nearly three years.January 2024 – A French tourist found a 7.46-carat diamond.

Today, the three most common diamond colors found at the park are white, brown and yellow, the park said.

The largest diamond ever found in the U.S. was discovered in 1924 on the property, the park said. The diamond is called the Uncle Sam, and it is a white diamond with a pink cast, weighing 40.23 carats. It’s part of the Smithsonian’s mineral and gem collection and is located at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.

Woman gives diamond a special name in honor of her soon-to-be union

Many people who find diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park name them, according to the park. Fox chose to name hers the Fox-Ballou Diamond in honor of herself and her partner.

Fox said the find is a true testament to the importance of getting out in the field and being active in nature.

“When you are literally picking up the dirt in your hands, no amount of research can do that for you,” she said. “No amount of education can take you all the way. It was daunting!” 

Contributing: Gabe Hauari, Saman Shafiq, Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY; Greta Cross, Springfield News-Leader

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.