Julien Navas, a French tourist, discovered a magnificent 7.46-carat diamond at an Arkansas state park while on a road trip earlier this month. On January 11, while searching the 37.5-acre search area at Crater of Diamonds State Park, Mr Navas came across the big rock.
Mr Navas was in the United States to observe a rocket launch in Florida and had plans with companions to visit Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Along the way, he discovered Arkansas’ world-renowned Crater of Diamonds State Park. The park attracted his curiosity because he had previously dug for gold and looked for ammonite fossils. According to a news release from Arkansas State Parks, the visitor felt compelled to visit the park during his stay to the US.
A few days before Navas’ arrival, the park had gotten more than an inch of rain, making for a soggy and muddy day. After obtaining his ticket and borrowing a basic diamond hunting outfit from the park, Navas entered the search area and began work. “I got to the park around nine o’clock and started to dig,” he told me. “That is back-breaking work so by the afternoon I was mainly looking on top of the ground for anything that stood out.”
“As rain falls on the field, it washes away the dirt and uncovers heavy rocks, minerals, and diamonds near the surface,” Assistant Park Superintendent Waymon Cox explained.
Mr. Cox stated that many of the park’s largest diamonds are located on the surface, and that the park ploughs the 37.5-acre search area on a regular basis to loosen the soil and stimulate natural erosion.
After several hours of hunting, Navas brought his finds to the park’s Diamond Discovery Center, where he learned he had uncovered a 7.46-carat brown diamond. When Navas discovered he had unearthed a diamond, he was shocked and exclaimed, “I am overjoyed! “All I can think about is telling my fiance what I discovered.”
Navas’ diamond is deep chocolate brown and rounded like marble. It is around the size of a sugar gumdrop.
“It is always so exciting to see first-time visitors find diamonds, especially large diamonds like this one!” remarked Park Interpreter Sarah Reap.
Mr Navas described his visit to Crater of Diamonds State Park as “a magical place, where the dream of finding a diamond can come true!” It was a very amazing adventure.” Navas stated that he hopes to return to the park with his daughter when she is older.
Mr Navas decided to name his discovery the Carine Diamond after his fiancee. He stated that he plans to have the stone cut into two diamonds, one for his fiancee and one for his daughter.