Visitor Found 6.03-Carat Diamond in Arkansas

Jack Pearadin discovered the largest diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park in 2026.

Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Gambling

Screen-print poster illustration of a metal bucket spilling gravel and a large uncut diamond onto volcanic soil. — Jack Pearadin discovered a 6.03-carat diamond, named the American Dream, at Arkansas' Crater of Diamonds State Park in 2026. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Jack Pearadin uncovered a 6.03-carat diamond, named the American Dream, at Crater of Diamonds State Park in 2026. This discovery stands as the largest find at the Arkansas site for that year.

Why it matters

The find underscores the unique nature of the park, which remains one of the only places worldwide where the public can hunt for diamonds. Visitors pay a $15 entry fee for the opportunity to keep any gemstones they discover.

The park charges a $15 entry fee and has seen over 37,000 diamonds discovered since 1972. While typical finds weigh about 0.17 carats, the American Dream is estimated to hold a value near $250,000.

The players

Jack Pearadin

He is a long-time visitor who has been searching for diamonds at the park since 2013.

Michael Schumacher

He assisted in the gravel-washing process and will share in the profits from the discovery.

Crater of Diamonds State Park

It is a public park in Murfreesboro that allows visitors to hunt for real diamonds in its soil.

The details

Jack Pearadin and Michael Schumacher discovered the gem after shoveling gravel from a field at the park. Pearadin rinsed the gravel from a bucket before flipping it onto a table to reveal the stone, which he plans to split with Schumacher and use to fund his own crystal mine.

1924: The 40.23-carat Uncle Sam diamond was found at the park.
1972: The site officially became a state park.
2013: Pearadin began diamond hunting at the park.
2020: A 9-carat diamond was found by a visitor.
2024: A 7-carat diamond was found by a visitor.

Roadmap

The discovery of the American Dream highlights the ongoing interest in amateur prospecting at the park. This find tracks closely with historical trends at the site, which has yielded over 37,000 diamonds since it opened.

Visitors interested in searching for gems must pay the $15 entry fee and provide their own shovels and buckets for the hunt. While high-carat finds are rare, the public access policy remains a major draw for tourism in the Murfreesboro area.

The takeaway

Prospecting for gemstones requires significant patience as most visitors find only small, low-value stones. Success often depends on persistence and following the established techniques for rinsing and searching the park's gravel fields.