Amateur Gem Hunter Finds 6-Carat Diamond in Arkansas

What began as another day of searching through rocks turned into an extraordinary discovery for an Arkansas gem hunter who uncovered a 6.03-carat yellow diamond.

Jack Pearadin, a Navy reservist and longtime gem hunter, found the diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas. He has spent more than a decade searching for gemstones at the park and says he has discovered more than 300 diamonds during that time.

The newly discovered stone, however, was unlike anything he had found before. Pearadin and his friend were searching through gravel when they spotted the unusually large gem.

He documented the discovery during a livestream on TikTok. After washing the gravel and examining what was left, Pearadin realized they had found a large yellow diamond.

The stone weighs 6.03 carats and has been given the name “American Dream.” Pearadin said some collectors have suggested that the diamond could potentially be worth more than $1 million.

However, not every estimate has been that high. An experienced appraiser who spoke with The Associated Press said a diamond of this size and quality could be worth around $250,000, illustrating how much the final value can depend on the stone’s characteristics and the market.

Crater of Diamonds State Park is unusual because visitors are allowed to search for diamonds and keep what they find. Hundreds of diamonds are discovered there each year, although most are considerably smaller than Pearadin’s latest find.

The park has a long history of remarkable discoveries. Its most famous find was the 40.23-carat “Uncle Sam” diamond, discovered at the site in 1924. That stone remains the largest diamond ever found in the United States.

For Pearadin, the discovery was the result of years of persistence rather than a single lucky visit. He had continued searching even though his hobby had rarely produced anything of major financial value.

He plans to share the proceeds from the diamond with his gem-hunting partner, Michael Schumacher. The pair have also discussed using some of the money to pursue another long-held goal: opening a crystal mine.

For now, the 6.03-carat yellow diamond stands as one of the most notable discoveries at the Arkansas park in 2026 — and a reminder that an ordinary day of searching through gravel can sometimes produce an extraordinary surprise.

Source

Associated Press, October 2, 2026.