PA Woman Unearths Valuable Diamond In Arkansas State Park

PENNSYLVANIA — A gem of a moment occurred for a Keystone State resident during a recent visit to Diamonds State Park in Arkansas.

According to the Arizona Parks Facebook Page , Keshia Smith uncovered a 3.09-carat white diamond - a find that she said felt was "meant to be."

How significant is that? According to StoneAlgo, a diamond that size can be worth anywhere from $12,444 to $95,874, with an average price of $40,254.

According to Arizona Parks, the find was particularly poignant as Smith is grieving from the recent loss of her son and father.

The post did not indicate how the pair died, and Smith could not immediately be reached for comment on Wednesday. The parks website did not indicate where in the state she resides, but online searches indicate she lives in Mifflin County north of Harrisburg

Smith named the gemstone the Za’Novia Liberty Diamond, honoring her grandchildren and the significance of America’s 250th year.

According to Arkansas.com. the park - located in Murfeesboro - is the only place in the world where the public can search for natural diamonds in their original volcanic source.

Visitors to the park search a 37-acre plowed field, the eroded surface of a volcanic crater, for a variety of rocks. Any rocks, minerals or gemstones found are the visitors' to keep.

As of January, more than 37,377 diamonds have been found by park visitors since the Crater of Diamonds became an Arkansas state park in 1972.

Notable diamonds found at the Crater include the 40.23-carat Uncle Sam, the largest diamond ever unearthed in the U.S.; the 16.37-carat Amarillo Starlight; the 15.33-carat Star of Arkansas; and the 8.52-carat Esperanza.