Jack Pearadin, a US Navy reservist, discovered a 6.03-carat yellow diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park in January while livestreaming on TikTok. He named it the American Dream Diamond. Before that find, he spent more than a decade scouring the site and found more than 300 other diamonds.
The Crater of Diamonds State Park features a 37-acre search area within an eroded volcanic crater. It is one of the few places where the public can search for natural diamonds at their source and keep what they find. Since becoming a state park in 1972, visitors have registered more than 37,000 diamonds.
In a recent interview with the Associated Press, Pearadin has told reporters that some collectors have estimated the value of his stone at $USD1 million.
Of course, not everyone has such ambitious estimates for the diamond. Appraiser Laura Stanley of Little Rock estimates that a diamond of this size and quality could sell for about $USD250,000 ($AUD385,000). She also noted that diamonds from this site are especially valued for their unique origin.
Pearadin began searching the park in 2013 and later relocated to Murfreesboro to pursue his hobby. He found the diamond with fellow hunter Michael Schumacher and plans to share any sale proceeds.
The most famous, the 40.23-carat Uncle Sam, was found in 1924 during the site’s commercial mining era and remains the largest diamond discovered in the United States.
Other notable finds include the 16.37-carat Amarillo Starlight, the 8.52-carat Esperanza, and a 7.64-carat brown diamond a French visitor discovered in 2023.
Pearadin told reporters he has sold most of his previous finds online and hopes this latest discovery will help fund his plans to open a crystal mine.
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