A Parisian traveler on a road trip through the United States this week dropped off at Arkansas’s Crater of Diamonds State Park, where guests may spend $15 per day to look for naturally occurring gems shimmering in the ground. He saw a sparkling 7.46-carat diamond that might be worth hundreds or maybe tens of thousands of dollars, depending on its purity and other considerations, after a long, arduous day of digging and picking. It was “finders, keepers” as is the case with dozens of pay-to-dig gemstone sites around the United States.
Although it was a rare victory—the eighth-largest stone discovered there—prospectors Frank and Kyndall Stallings say it is not too unusual to bring home a diamond. The fortunate explorer christened his jewel the “Carine Diamond” after his fiancée. Since 2020, the husband and wife pair has been traveling the United States searching for crystals and creating a blog called That Camping Couple.
The Stallings have discovered eleven diamonds in Arkansas in the last three and a half years, along with emeralds and sapphires in North Carolina, garnet in Idaho, syenites in Michigan, crystals in upstate New York, and turquoise in Nevada. These riches may be kept by contemporary prospectors (known as fossickers in the UK), used to make jewelry, or, as in the case of the Stallings, sold to social media followers during live-streamed events on Facebook and Instagram.
While some mines allow visitors to bring their own equipment, others require diggers to rent it on-site. Frank Stallings told BBC Travel, “It is physically demanding, but if you are willing to put in the work, it is very easy, in a lot of locations, to be successful.”
Pick up a sledgehammer and chisel and try your luck at these six locations in the United States.
Ron Coleman Mining in Jessieville, Arkansas
Visitors come here in search of pure, water-clear crystal quartz points or clusters, according to Tresa McFarlin, digital specialist for Ron Coleman Mining, who spoke to BBC Travel. They can sort through the tailings of the on-site commercial quartz mining facility and fill a five-gallon bag with their treasures for $25 per day (children under six dig for free). Employees are available to assist. McFarlin remarked, “Some people find a lot.” “How much you want to dig, how hard you want to work, and how long you want to stay are the main determining factors.”
Diggers at Royal Peacock Opal Mines receive $190 each day, and they are free to keep whatever they uncover. Kyndall Stallings found a black opal here two years ago that was valued at between $3,000 and $5,000. She claims that the mine’s website has a wealth of beginner-friendly instructions and that the personnel is kind.
Herkimer Diamond Mines in Herkimer, New York
Early April through October
Thousands of aficionados will be digging Herkimer diamonds, a kind of exceptionally hard and clear quartz crystal that is exclusive to Herkimer County in central New York state, when these seasonal mines open for business in April for the 2024 season. On weekdays, adults pay $18 to dig, while on weekends, they pay $20.
American Fossil Quarry in Kemmerer, Wyoming
Late May to mid-September
This quarry is well-known for its museum-caliber fossilized animals, which include fish, bats, and the ancient three-toed horse known as a Miohippus. Adults may spend $159 a day, which covers all of the tools. The fossilized stingrays, crawfish, and other items have been brought home by the Stallings.
