Navy Reservist Finds Rare 6-Carat Yellow Diamond at Arkansas Park

Jack Pearadin, a Navy reservist with decades of experience hunting for stones, has finally shared details about a monumental find that could change his financial future. Earlier this year, he uncovered the gem at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas. He calls it the "American Dream." The stone weighs 6.03 carats and displays a vibrant golden-yellow hue alongside an unusual square shape. Pearadin recently spoke to The Associated Press about the moment everything changed for him.

The discovery happened during a January 25 TikTok livestream, not long after a heavy winter storm dropped over an inch of ice on the search area. Sifting gravel became nearly impossible under those freezing conditions. Pearadin and his friend Michael Schumacher had gathered the stones in late December while Schumacher was traveling elsewhere that day. The hunt took place shortly after the storm coated everything in frost, making the manual labor especially grueling.

"I was about eight feet away, and for some reason I turned back and saw [the gem] glowing from the center of the pile," Pearadin explained to reporters. He admitted he had to dig almost to the bottom of the bucket to retrieve it because the object felt so heavy in his hands. "I was shaking!" The reaction went viral instantly during the live broadcast. "Oh my God! Oh my God!" Pearadin shouted into the camera before adding, "We got a big one!"

Valuation remains uncertain since park staff lack the training to grade diamonds or estimate their market value. Arkansas State Parks officials clarified that their primary job is identifying and registering stones found by guests rather than appraising them. "Anyone interested in having their diamonds graded or appraised can reach out to a certified gemologist, who has had special training to properly grade gemstone quality and estimate value," one official stated. Some collectors suggested the stone might be worth up to $1 million based on its rarity.

Laura Stanley, a certified gem appraiser based in Little Rock, offered a different perspective for The Associated Press. She believes a high-quality six-carat yellow diamond from this specific location could sell for about $250,000. "They are their own entity," she noted regarding the unique nature of Crater diamonds. Stanley emphasized that visitors can only find stones here and cannot compare them directly to those sourced from other mines anywhere else in America.

Pearadin has been searching for gems at this site since 2013, a passion strong enough to move him from his original home to nearby Murfreesboro. "I love it that much," he told the news outlet. He plans to split any profits from the sale with Schumacher, who helped collect the gravel containing the stone. Pearadin hopes to use future earnings to open his own crystal mine someday.

This find joins several other notable discoveries made at the park this year alone. Earlier in the summer, officials announced a grieving woman from Pennsylvania found a 3.09-carat diamond just days after burying her father and months after losing her son. On August 29, a Tennessee grandfather unearthed a 2.29-carat yellow diamond while searching the grounds. Pearadin's story adds another chapter to the history of this unique American institution where people still dig for fortune in their own backyard.