Brief
Arkansas hobbyist uncovers 6‑carat diamond he says could fetch $1 million
Jack Pearadin livestreamed the discovery of a 6.03‑carat diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park, saying experts estimate a value of up to $1 million.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Gem hunter Jack Pearadin said he uncovered a 6.03‑carat diamond at Arkansas’s Crater of Diamonds State Park, a find he believes could be worth as much as $1 million, according to the New York Post.
What happened
During a dig earlier this year, Pearadin and a friend shovelled a bucket of gravel at the park, rinsed the material and revealed a six‑carat diamond roughly the size of a fingernail. Pearadin livestreamed the moment on TikTok, exclaiming, “Oh my God! Oh my God! … Holy crap, we got a big one!” The stone, dubbed the “American Dream,” measures 6.03 carats and is the largest diamond found at the park in 2026.
What the reports add
The Post notes that at least one experienced appraiser told the Associated Press a diamond of this size and quality could be worth a fourth of Pearadin’s claim, still an impressive sum. Park data show more than 37,000 diamonds have been found since the former mine became a state park in 1972, with most weighing a quarter‑carat. The park’s largest ever find, the 40.23‑carat “Uncle Sam,” was discovered in 1924.
What was said
Pearadin told the Associated Press he moved to nearby Murfreesboro in 2013 to pursue his hobby, saying, “I love it that much.” Park assistant superintendent Waymon Cox said larger stones have been found before, citing a 9‑carat diamond in 2020 and a 7‑carat stone in 2024. GIA senior manager Nathan Renfro explained that natural diamonds lose about 25 % of their weight when cut and polished.
How it came about
Pearadin, a Navy reservist originally from Missouri, has been digging at Crater of Diamonds State Park for more than a dozen years, reporting over 300 gems to date. The park charges a $15 entry fee for visitors to fill a five‑gallon bucket and keep any gemstones they find.
Key facts
- Jack Pearadin discovered a 6.03‑carat diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park. (nypost.com)
- Pearadin claims the stone could be worth up to $1 million. (nypost.com)
- An experienced appraiser suggested a value of about $250,000 for a diamond of that size. (nypost.com)
- The park has yielded more than 37,000 diamonds since 1972, most under a quarter‑carat. (nypost.com)
- The park’s largest find, ‘Uncle Sam,’ weighed 40.23 carats in 1924. (nypost.com)
Sources
- [1] nypost.com — originally reported as “Arkansas gem hunter finds diamond he claims could be worth $1 million”
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