Man Unearths 'Big, Ugly' 3.29-Carat Diamond at Ark. Park — the Latest of Over 400 Finds: 'Amazing Discovery'
The State Parks of Arkansas Facebook David Anderson and the "Big, Ugly Diamond"
A man from Arkansas recently found a massive 3.29-carat brown diamond at a state park.
David Anderson, a resident of Murfreesboro, found the diamond while wet-sifting soil in Crater of Diamonds State Park's 37.5-acre diamond search area, the park said in a statement.
"At first I thought it was quartz but wondered why it was so shiny," he said in the release. "Once I picked it up, I realized it was a diamond!"
The park said Anderson's discovery is the largest diamond found at the park this year and the largest gem since September 2021.
Anderson has been a regular visitor to the park for the past 16 years, the park said. In that time, he's discovered more than 400 diamonds, including 15 that weigh over one carat.
He previously found a 3.83-carat yellow diamond in December 2011 and a 6.19-carat white diamond in April 2014, the park said.
RELATED: Calif. Woman Finds 4.38-Carat Diamond in Ark. Park, Marking Largest One Found There This Year
But for the diamond found on March 4, Anderson decided on a unique nickname inspired by the gem's mottled brown color and pitted surface: "B.U.D.," which stands for "Big, Ugly Diamond."
According to Tayler Markham, a park interpreter, the diamond is the size of an English pea, with an octahedron shape and a partially resorbed surface.
The State Parks of Arkansas Facebook The Big, Ugly Diamond
RELATED: Man Discovers $40K Ring While Combing Florida Beach and Happily Returns It: 'Karma's Always Good'
"Mr. Anderson's diamond is about the size of an English pea, with a light brown color and octahedron shape," Markham said in the press release. "It has a metallic shine typical of all diamonds found at the park, with a partially resorbed surface and lots of inclusions."
According to its website, Crater of Diamonds State Park, once a farm owned by John Huddleston, has a storied history of diamond discoveries, with over 75,000 discoveries since 1906.
Although diamonds come in various colors, the most common colors found at the park are white, brown, and yellow, in that order, per the park's website.
RELATED VIDEO: Woman's Diamond Ring Recovered from River After Falling from Husband's Pocket: 'It's Never Coming off Again'
More than 120 diamonds have been reported at Crater of Diamonds State Park this year. Visitors to the park can typically expect to find one to two diamonds per day.
Anderson first learned about the park in 2007 while watching The Travel Channel. His first visit proved fruitful, as he found his first diamond, a 1.5-carat white diamond, which he says hooked him on diamond hunting.
"Congratulations, David on another amazing discovery!" the park wrote on Facebook.
