Crater of Diamonds park
14 messages in this thread
Hi, folks–
I just got back from Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas. This is a
kimberlite/lamproite pipe, which produces a modest number of diamonds, as well
as occasional garnets and peridots. Owned by the state, it is not mined
commercially, being instead open for the public to try their hands at diamond
mining.
I am fuzzy on whether kimberlite/lamproite pipes are intrusive or extrusive
igneous rocks; the pipe formation suggests to me they are an extrusion,
suggesting to me there may have been a volcano on that site long since worn
away – the "diamond mine" is not especially higher than its surroundings.
The "diamond mine" part of the park ($4 admission to that area) is turned over
by heavy equipment monthly – it looks sort of like a newly-plowed field. I
found numerous chunks of kimberlite (or lamproite? I do not know how to
distinguish them), and that is all I came away with; my companions also left
with no diamonds, though they saw another woman having 5 diamonds verified.
Having no diamonds to show, and seeing no reason why fishermen should have a
monopoly on "fish stories", I would like everyone to know that I did find a
golfball-sized fluorescent diamond crystal in kimberlite, but there it was not
fluorescent and there were so many peridots and garnets cluttering up the
specimen as to limit its aesthetic quality as a specimen and leave it useless
for anything but faceting, so I threw it back for some lapidarist to find.
–Doug
> so I threw it back for some lapidarist to find.
AARRRGGGGHHHH!!! <g>
And just as he was pulling that diamond up to the side of the boat, an even
bigger diamond came up out the depths and bit the end of its tail off, making
it just one inch shorter than the world record at that time. 🙂
Hi, Guy–
Actually, I did relent and go back after the 1-inch equant diamond, but a
foursome of golfers who must have been far into the rough came by and swatted
it out of the park. By the time I ran it down, I found it had become the
center of a dispute among IRS agents wanting to withhold part of it, DeBeers
employees seeking to insure it was sold via their cartel, racketeers who had
some money laundering plans for it, and some other parties of indeterminate
interest; I just turned my boat around and paddled away. I fear no lapidarist
will ever see it.
–Doug
Snif, Snif, did someone leave an open can of tuna-fish around here?!
<G> -Guy
Hi, Guy–
What, you don't believe me? It must be because you figure you would have seen
mention of the brouhaha in your newspaper. I see I forgot to mention that a
thunderstorm came along and dumped golf-ball sized hail on us, and the diamond
was lost among the hailstones before anyone was killed.
–Doug
Hi, Doug-
Well, after today, maybe I should belive you. A couple of hours ago
Lanny picked up a loose 1" long analcime crystal, and just gave it to me.
This was up on Long Ridge, between the Gray's river and Chehalis river
drainages in SW WA. (Thanks Lanny, I forgot to mention that today was my
41'st birthday. Nice present!) We visted the Rice collection yesterday. I
wasn't expecting a world class mineral museum in these folk's basement, but
that's what we found. It's been a fun weekend, I may have flourescents to
trade. (Gotta lamp some more specimens tonight)
– Guy
Hi, Guy–
I envy you that weekend; I wonder how many things like that happen here in OK?
Well, none that anyone tells me about anyway.
Hi, folks–
The Crater of Diamonds state park (which is real, though it inspires tall
tales) mentioned before might be another disappearing resource for rockhounds –
I hear rumors that some commercial outfit is dickering for rights to a mining
test operation, which sounds like it would displace the collecting at least for
a time. Anyone with a notion of visiting the park might want to speed up their
plans.
–Doug
Doug…
You may be right about that plan to go commercial at Crater of Diamonds, I
heard about the exploratory work probably 1 1/2 years ago. At that time the
commercial interests were expected to close a portion of the pipe but it
sounded like less that 20% while testing. Of course a decision to go commercial
could mean a lot more (or all) of it might get closed.
-Russ
Hi, Russ–
If they only close 20% and give up, that might be a boon for collectors, as
they might dump a lot of kimberlite, which would weather and enrich the surface
diamond count.
–Doug
There was a news note in Lap. J. or Colored Stone recently on the exploration
at Crater of Diamonds. Unfortunately I don't remember what exactly it said and
can't find the right issue now, but I believe it said something about the
initial prospecting was completed and the company was starting permitting
procedures to make the next step. No word on the locals who are against all
commercial work.
Lanny
Guy
Glad you liked the analcime–too bad we didn't find a place we could reasonably
work and find some more! Maybe we should head up there with tools next time.
Only 41st birthday–gee just a kid.
It was a great weekend, glad you enjoyed it, I had a good time (at the meeting
and collecting–even though the actual collecting was a bit meager).
Lanny
Hi, Lanny
>Glad you liked the analcime–
Well, it was a rather massive crystal compared to the other examples we had
seen. <G>
>I had a good time (at the meeting and collecting–even though the actual
>collecting was a bit meager).
Me too. It was great to get out in the good weather and see a bit of the
country I'd never seen before. Tackling a tangled web of logging roads,
getting thoroughly lost, and then finding the way out the other side has
always held a special thrill for me. Most of the logging roads around my
neck of the woods are 15 miles of bad road to a locked gate!
BTW, the hike along the quarry at the edge of a 500+ foot dropoff didn't
bother me a bit, but my knuckles were white again crossing the
Longview-Rainier bridge on the way home. I wish I knew what it is with me
and bridges! <G>
Thanks again, Guy
Yeah, I didn't notice you sweating too much as we hiked over those bounds of
muck. Maybe high-above dirt is OK but high-above water on a flimsy looking
piece of steel is another matter!
I haven't touched the few minerals I picked up, so don't know if anything
cleaned up niecly or not. Hope you enjoy your curved quartz.
Lanny