Crater of Diamonds State Park visit yields 2.95-carat stone

MURFREESBORO, Ark., July 8 (UPI) -- A Kentucky man who has been visiting the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas for 28 years unearthed a 2.95-carat stone during an Independence Day visit.

Arkansas State Parks said Terry Staggs of Richmond, who has been visiting the park a couple of times per year for the past 28 years, decided to take a trip to the park for the long holiday weekend and dug up the champagne brown diamond the morning of July 4.

Richmond told officials he dubbed his find the Patriot Diamond in honor of the holiday.

"Mr. Staggs' diamond appears to be a complete crystal and is shaped like a shield. It's about the size of an English Pea and has a golden brown metallic appearance," Park Interpreter Waymon Cox said. "The diamond looks similar in shape to the 4.21-carat yellow Okie Dokie Diamond, which was discovered by Oklahoma State Trooper Marvin Culver at the Crater of Diamonds in 2006."

"Because of their color, brown diamonds are often difficult to find in the dark dirt of the diamond search area. However, sunny weather conditions on July 4th were perfect for this sparkler to catch Mr. Staggs' attention as he searched," said Cox. "Mr. Staggs' gem was found in gravel on the surface of the East Drain area. Sunlight reflecting off the diamond made it stand out from the other stones."