Lucky couple find massive yellow diamond while on vacation at state park
A California couple visited a state park in Arkansas and made an amazing discovery — a massive 4.38-carat diamond.
[Oct 1, 2021: Michael Hollan]
This sounds like a pretty good way to spend a vacation.
A California couple visited a state park in Arkansas and made an amazing discovery. While they may have shown up hoping to spend some time with nature, they left with a massive diamond.
Noreen and Michael Wredberg live in Granite Bay, Calif., and have spent the last decade visiting the country’s various national parks. During a trip to Arkansas, they visited the Crater of Diamonds State Park, according to a news release from the Arkansas State Parks.
According to the release, Arkansas is the only state in the country to have a diamond mine open to the public.
Noreen and Michael Wredberg live in Granite Bay, Calif., and have spent the last decade visiting the country’s various national parks. (CREDIT: Arkansas State Park)
Noreen says she had heard about the park on TV years ago and wanted to visit. She and her husband arrived on September 23 of this year. While there, they participated in a diamond hunt. While Noreen wanted to stay near the entrance, her husband suggested moving to a nearby field where it was a bit warmer.
While searching there, Noreen found a 4.38-carat diamond.
The Arkansas State Parks website says that it is the largest diamond found at the state park so far this year.
Park Superintendent Caleb Howell inspected the diamond and said, "When I first saw this diamond under the microscope, I thought, ‘Wow, what a beautiful shape and color!’ Mrs. Wredberg’s diamond weighs more than four carats and is about the size of a jellybean, with a pear shape and a lemonade yellow color."
According to Park Interpreter Waymon Cox, the area is routinely prepared to help visitors find diamonds.
"We plow the search area periodically to loosen the soil and promote natural erosion," he explained. "Diamonds are somewhat heavy for their size and lack static electricity, so dirt doesn’t stick to them. When rain uncovers a larger diamond and the sun comes out, its reflective surface is often easy to see."
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Tags: #Good_News, #Diamond, #Lucky_Find, #Treasure, #The_Brighter_Side_of_News
Joseph Shavit
Science News Writer, Editor-At-Large and Publisher
Joseph Shavit, based in Los Angeles, is a seasoned science journalist, editor and co-founder of The Brighter Side of News, where he transforms complex discoveries into clear, engaging stories for general readers. With experience at major media groups like Times Mirror and Tribune, he writes with both authority and curiosity. His work spans astronomy, physics, quantum mechanics, climate change, artificial intelligence, health, and medicine. Known for linking breakthroughs to real-world markets, he highlights how research transitions into products and industries that shape daily life.