Woman on first diamond hunt finds gem in first 20 minutes

There be diamonds in them thar hills!

We have all heard the tales about the 19th century prospectors heading out in to the American west to make their fortunes in gold and diamonds.

Well back here in the 21st century a woman has found one hell of a rock… and it took her just 20 minutes.

This 8.52 carat gem was dug up by Bobbie Oskarson at the Arkansas’ Crater of Diamonds State Park at Murfreesboro.

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Park interpreter Waymon Cox said: ‘It was hot and sunny at the park, but Ms Oskarson was staying cool by searching in a tree-shaded area when she found her diamond.

‘Ms Oskarson’s 8.5-carat diamond is absolutely stunning, sparkling with a metallic shine, and appears to be an unbroken, capsule-shaped crystal.

‘It features smooth, curved facets, a characteristic shared by all unbroken diamonds from the Crater of Diamonds.’

Sounds lovely.

So if you happen to be in Arkansas what’s the chances of finding your own rock?

Well pretty good actually.

Bobbie’s find is the 227th diamond certified by Crater of Diamonds State Park staff this year and about 75,000 have been found since the crater was discovered open in 1906.