Talk about a rock solid birthday.
A girl celebrating her seventh birthday this month found a rare 2.95-carat golden-brown diamond in an Arkansas state park.
Aspen Brown, of Paragould, found the valuable, pea-sized gem during a trip to Crater of Diamonds State Park with her father and grandmother to celebrate her birthday on Sept. 1, according to Arkansas State Parks.
He was resting near a pile of large rocks on the eroded surface of an ancient diamond-studded volcano when something shiny caught his eye.
“The next thing I knew, she was running up to me and saying, ‘Dad! Dad! I found one!’” his father, Luther Brown, recalled.
Aspen took her haul to the park’s Diamond Discovery Center, where they confirmed that the birthday girl had found a huge diamond.
Finding a gem that size in the 37.5-acre diamond search area is an “exceptionally rare” find, Aaron Palke, a research scientist at the Gemological Institute of America, told Insider.
The Aspen Diamond is the second largest found this year in the diamond-rich state park.
Most diggers, including professionals, only find diamonds in the entire park between 0.05 and 0.20 carats, about the size of a grain of rice.
“It’s very unusual to find a diamond like that in Arkansas,” Palke told the outlet.
Not only was it a big rock, but professionals said it was in near perfect condition.
“The Aspen diamond has a golden brown color and a brilliant shine. “It is a complete crystal, with no broken facets and a small crack on one side, created when the diamond was formed,” said Waymon Cox, assistant park superintendent.
The park allows visitors to preserve any rocks or minerals they find while searching its 37-acre field. Arkansas State Parks
“It is without a doubt one of the most beautiful diamonds I have seen in recent years.”
But the value of this rare stone remains a secret.
In honor of her birthday and her incredible eye, Aspen decided to name the gem after her.
The park allows visitors to bring their own mining equipment to search, with the exception of battery- or motor-powered mining tools, or they can rent tools at the park. Arkansas State Parks
The Aspen diamond is the second largest found this year in the diamond-rich state park, surpassed only by a 3.29-carat brown stone discovered in March.
However, it is the first large diamond recorded since the park completed an excavation project last month.
“A contracted company dug a 150-yard trench in August to help control erosion on the north side of the search area,” said Caleb Howell, park superintendent.
“Several tons of diamond-bearing material were exposed and it is quite possible that this diamond and others were discovered as a result.”
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Source: vtt.edu.vn