Jack Pearadin, a Navy reservist who has been hunting for gems at Crater of Diamonds State Park since 2013, made headlines this week when a TikTok livestream captured the moment he uncovered a 6.03‑carat yellow diamond. Pearadin, originally from Missouri and now living near Murfreesboro, Arkansas, was digging with his friend Michael Schumacher of Wisconsin when the stone emerged from a bucket of gravel.
Live reaction and appraisal
“Oh my God! Oh my God!” Pearadin exclaimed as he rinsed the gravel and turned the bucket over, revealing the sparkling facets of the diamond. An experienced appraiser quoted by the Associated Press said a diamond of this size and quality could be worth as much as $250,000, while other collectors suggested a potential value of up to $1 million.
Crater of Diamonds State Park: a unique public resource
Established as a state park in 1972, Crater of Diamonds allows visitors to fill a 5‑gallon bucket for a $15 entry fee and keep any gemstones they find. Since its opening, more than 37,000 diamonds have been recovered, most weighing a quarter of a carat or less. The park’s largest find to date remains the 40.23‑carat “Uncle Sam,” discovered in 1924 and later cut into a 12.42‑carat gem on display at the Smithsonian.
Park interpreter Sarah Bivens notes that the park typically yields 400 to 800 diamonds each year. Larger stones are rare but not unheard of; a 9‑carat diamond was found in 2020 by an Arkansas bank manager, and a 7‑carat stone was uncovered in 2024 by a French visitor.
Scientific context
According to Nathan Renfro, senior manager at the Gemological Institute of America, natural diamonds form under extreme pressure and heat deep within the Earth before volcanic activity brings them to the surface. The United States has only two primary diamond deposits—Crater of Diamonds in Arkansas and the former Kelsey Lake mine in Colorado—making the Arkansas park one of the few places where the public can legally hunt for diamonds and keep their finds.
Potential payout and future plans
Certified gem appraiser Laura Stanley of Little Rock estimates that a typical 0.17‑carat diamond from the park sells for around $700, while a high‑quality six‑carat yellow diamond can command roughly $250,000 because of its rarity and origin. Pearadin plans to split the proceeds with Schumacher, who helped sift the gravel, and is considering opening his own crystal mining operation.
He has named the stone “American Dream,” reflecting both its striking appearance and the opportunity it represents for everyday Americans to discover valuable treasures in a public setting.
Local impact
The find underscores the park’s role as a modest economic driver for the surrounding community. Visitors travel from across the nation to try their luck, supporting local hotels, restaurants, and souvenir shops. For hobbyists like Pearadin, the park offers a rare chance to turn a personal passion into a potentially life‑changing payoff.
Original reporting: Richardson, TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
