Arkansas State Parks recently shared news about the find, which was made at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Pike County. Forty-one-year-old James Ward unearthed the 2.09-carat brown diamond on Dec. 30.<\/p>\n
Ward, who lives in Cypress, Texas, was visiting the park with his wife, Elizabeth, and their two young sons<\/a>, Adrian, 9, and Austin, 7.<\/p>\n LONG-LOST ANCIENT VILLAGE WITH MYSTERIOUS PAST UNEARTHED AMID WIND FARM DIG: ‘EXCITING DISCOVERY’<\/a><\/p>\n Visiting the park was the 7-year-old’s idea, according to Elizabeth Ward.\u00a0<\/p>\n “One day we were watching TV, and Austin came and said, \u2018Mommy, Mommy, is there any place in Texas or nearby that we can mine for crystals?<\/a>\u2019” the mother recalled.<\/p>\n James Ward of Cypress, Texas, found the diamond while visiting the Arkansas park with his wife and two young sons. (Arkansas State Parks)<\/p>\n She quickly searched with Siri and found information on Crater of Diamonds State Park<\/a>.<\/p>\n “I sent the link to James, and he\u2019s like, \u2018Oh wait, that\u2019s only like six hours away. We can go!\u2019” added Elizabeth Ward.<\/p>\n “Listen to your kids about their dreams and what they want to do!”<\/p>\n The gem, named the Ward Diamond, was found on the family’s second day of searching.\u00a0<\/p>\n The first day was long and cold, but 9-year-old Adrian encouraged the family to come back the next day \u2014 when the gem was found.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER<\/a><\/p>\n “I didn\u2019t know what it was, but I knew it was different than everything else I had found,” said the dad.\u00a0<\/p>\n Waymon Cox, an assistant park superintendent, compared the diamond to a corn kernel.<\/p>\n “[It has] a dark yellowish-brown hue and a beautiful, metallic luster [that’s] characteristic of all Crater diamonds,” said Cox.<\/p>\n Park officials described the Ward Diamond as having a dark yellowish-brown hue and metallic luster. (Arkansas State Parks)<\/p>\n He added that crater diamonds formed in Earth’s upper mantle<\/a> \u2014 and “were carried to the surface by an ancient volcanic pipe” millions of years ago.<\/p>\n “Most are chipped, broken or include flaws from the immense geological forces they endured,” Cox said.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES<\/a><\/p>\n “Given its current size, you can imagine how much bigger Mr. Ward\u2019s diamond might have been as a complete crystal.”\u00a0<\/p>\n What lies ahead for the diamond is unknown \u2014 and Ward said he’s open to selling it or keeping it.<\/p>\n The diamond emerged on the second day after cold weather cut short the family\u2019s first attempt. (Arkansas State Parks)<\/p>\n “I\u2019ll have to see how much it\u2019s worth first,” he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ward also encouraged fellow park visitors not to give up on their first day of digging.<\/p>\n TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ<\/a><\/p>\n “Listen to your kids about their dreams and what they want to do!” his wife added.\u00a0<\/p>\n Arkansas State Parks told Fox News Digital that park employees “are not trained to grade or appraise diamonds or other rocks and minerals.”<\/p>\n “I\u2019ll have to see how much it’s worth,” said Ward about his rare find. (Arkansas State Parks)<\/p>\n “Our primary training involves properly identifying and registering diamonds for guests who find them,” the official said.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Anyone interested in having their diamonds graded or appraised can reach out to a certified gemologist, who has had special training to properly grade gemstone quality<\/a> and estimate value.”<\/p>\n Ward’s discovery adds to a growing list of substantial gems found by visitors at Crater of Diamonds State Park.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP<\/a><\/p>\n An Oklahoma family unearthed a 2.79-carat diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park<\/a> back in September, thanks to tools they bought at a dollar store.<\/p>\n![\"Man](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/arkansas-man-digs-up-brown-diamond-with-family-archaeology-geology-discovery-3.jpg\")
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