An Arkansas man visiting Crater of Diamonds State Park made a surprising discovery when he picked up what he thought was a piece of glass and later found out it was a 4.87-carat diamond. Jerry Evans and his girlfriend decided to visit the park for the first time last spring. Shortly after their arrival, Evans spotted what he believed to be glass on top of a plowed ridge, a few feet away. He decided to pocket the find, unsure if it was a diamond or not.

"It was so clear. I really didn't know," Evans stated. "We were picking up everything thinking it was a diamond." Evans, who resides about 250 miles away in Lepanto, Arkansas, returned home with the small object. Curiosity got the better of him, and he sent it to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) for identification. The GIA specializes in gem and jewelry research and education.

A few weeks later, Evans received confirmation from the GIA that he had indeed found a near-colorless diamond. "When they called and told me it was real, I was tickled to death!" he exclaimed. Excited about his discovery, Evans contacted the park to report his finding. It turned out to be the largest diamond registered at the park since Labor Day of 2020 when Kevin Kinard found a 9.07-carat brown diamond there.

Waymon Cox, the assistant park superintendent at Crater of Diamonds State Park, expressed his surprise at Evans' initiative. "While I get many emails from people wanting me to identify something they've found here, to my recollection, this is the first time someone has contacted me after they've had a diamond identified by the GIA," Cox said.

Crater of Diamonds State Park has been a source of diamonds since it became a state park in 1972. The park is known for its diamonds originating from volcanic sources. On average, one to two diamonds are found there daily, with a total of 798 diamonds, amounting to over 125 carats, being registered at the park in 2023, according to park officials. The park's website states that over 75,000 diamonds have been discovered at Crater of Diamonds since the early 1900s when the first diamonds were found in Pike County, where the park is located.

Evans' unexpected find highlights the allure and potential for treasure at Crater of Diamonds State Park, a place where visitors continue to uncover valuable gems amidst the natural beauty of the park.