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Arkansas visitor finds 6.03-carat yellow diamond at state park

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A visitor searching for gems at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas found a 6.03-carat yellow diamond, the largest diamond reported at the park so far in 2026.

The finder, Jack Pearadin, discovered the rough stone while digging with his friend Michael Schumacher. Pearadin was livestreaming the search when the pair noticed the gem in a pile of gravel.

Pearadin and Schumacher named the stone the American Dream Diamond. It is roughly the size of a fingernail, according to Associated Press reporting.

The discovery came after more than a decade of searching. Pearadin told the AP he has found more than 300 diamonds since he began visiting the park in 2013, and that he moved to nearby Murfreesboro to be closer to the field.

The stone’s possible value has drawn attention, but estimates differ. Pearadin said collectors told him it could be worth as much as $1 million; an experienced appraiser told the AP a more likely estimate could be about $250,000.

The value of a rough diamond can depend on its color, clarity, shape and how it can be cut. The higher figure is a collector estimate reported by Pearadin, not a confirmed sale price.

Crater of Diamonds is unusual because visitors can search for natural diamonds in the original volcanic material and keep what they find under park rules. Arkansas tourism officials say the public search area covers 37 acres.

The park became an Arkansas state park in 1972. As of January 2026, more than 37,000 diamonds had been found by visitors there, according to the state’s tourism information.

The new find is significant for this year, but it is not the largest diamond found at the site. The 40.23-carat Uncle Sam diamond, discovered in 1924, remains the largest diamond found in the United States.

The park’s diamond search area is open daily, and visitors can learn about the site’s geology and searching methods at the Diamond Discovery Center. The park is near Murfreesboro in southwestern Arkansas.

Sources: Associated Press reporting on Jack Pearadin’s discovery and appraisals and Arkansas tourism information about Crater of Diamonds State Park.

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