1000th Diamond Found
Denis Tyrell, who works as a handyman at the Crater of Diamonds State Park, spotted a sparkle on a site he had been working and bent down to pick up the 1000th diamond found in the park this year.
The 3.48 carat diamond is the biggest Tyrell has found since he began fossicking for diamonds in March this year.
Said Tyrell, “When I’m here and I’m walking, I’m always looking. When I’m on the ground, I’m always digging,” said Tyrrell, who states he has found 131 diamonds in his many digs. He said he’s been living in a tent at a local rock shop for the past nine months and works as a handyman.
“I do various jobs. It’s a slow place, not too many things happen,” which he said gives him a lot of time to spend at the mine.
“I come as often as I possibly can out here, depending on the weather and other things that I have to do back at camp,” he said. “When I’m here and I’m walking, I’m always looking. When I’m on the ground, I’m always digging,” said Tyrrell, who says he’s found 131 diamonds in his many digs.
The light-brown diamond has a rectangular shape and is about the size of a piece of Chicklets chewing gum, he remarked.
“A beautiful gem like that … very clear. When a diamond shows up, it’s beautiful. It’s an amazing thing to know, this little spot produces diamonds. I love it a lot,” Tyrrell said.
Tyrrell said that when he found the diamond he first cleaned it, then put it in his mouth, “under my tongue.” Then he headed for the visitors center.
“They always know when I’m coming with something,” he said. “It was a very exciting day.”
Tyrrell said he’d listen to anyone who wants to buy the gem, but he noted that park rules don’t allow him to offer the diamond for sale.
Crater of Diamonds State Park, which opened in 1972, is the world’s only diamond-producing site open to the public. Visitors can keep the gems they unearth. The largest diamond found at the park was the 16.37-carat Amarillo Starlight, a white diamond found by a Texas visitor in 1975.
Tyrrell said he’d listen to anyone who wants to buy the gem, but he noted that park rules don’t allow him to offer the diamond for sale.
Crater of Diamonds State Park, which opened in 1972, is the world’s only diamond-producing site open to the public. Visitors can keep the gems they unearth. The largest diamond found at the park was the 16.37-carat Amarillo Starlight, a white diamond found by a Texas visitor in 1975.