A father-and-son road trip turned into an unforgettable experience for Will and Marshall Barnett of Buckeye, AZ, when they discovered the second-largest diamond registered this year at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas.
During a “boys’ week” trip in late July, the Barnetts visited the park after hearing about it from Will’s uncle, a park interpreter at another Arkansas State Park. Armed with buckets, shovels, and rented screens, they began their search on July 27th.
While wet sifting dirt in the park’s 37.5-acre diamond search area, Will spotted a shiny gem at the bottom of his screen. Excited, he called his son over, and together they confirmed their find with an experienced miner.
Later, park staff verified the discovery as a large, two-carat diamond, rectangular in shape and light brown in color. Park Superintendent Caleb Howell commented on the excitement of the Barnetts, noting their joyful reactions.
The Barnetts named their find “Minor Find,” a nod to their shared hobby of gold panning and Will’s nickname for his son, “minor-miner.” This discovery marks the 412th diamond registered at the park this year, with visitors typically finding one or two diamonds daily.
