Diamond Prospecting in Murfreesboro, Arkansas - Kathy Hrechka

Kathy Hrechka shares her adventure of prospecting for naturally occurring diamonds at the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas. She explains how the locality was discovered to be an eroded surface of a volcanic crater consisting of lamproite that formed more than 100 million years old.
Kathy is a micromineral collector, specializing in diamonds. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising but landed a career in the airline industry as a flight attendant. Her career enabled her to travel to interesting geology localities around the world.
Kathy is also a volunteer webmaster and editor for the Micromineralogists of the National Capital Area. In addition, she volunteers in the Geology, Gems, & Mineral Hall at the Smithsonian’s Museum of Natural History.
The history of diamond prospecting in Murfreesboro began in 1906. Since then, various international mining companies have successfully mined diamonds there. In 1972, Crater of Diamonds became an Arkansas State Park, welcoming prospectors. Kathy considered the locality to be her “micromineral field of dreams.” She spent all day on Mother's Day 2022 trekking across the field and sifting the lamproite.
While prospecting, she noticed the site of the famous Uncle Sam Diamond, which was marked with a shovel and a sign. It was the largest diamond ever found, 40.23-carats in 1924. It has since been faceted to a 12.42-carat emerald cut gem. The diamond traveled from jeweler to museum to private owner before coming to the Smithsonian in 2019. The Uncle Sam Diamond recently went on display in the Gem gallery of the Smithsonian’s Museum of Natural History.
Kathy gives credit to the author of “Genuine Diamonds found in Arkansas,” Glenn W. Worthington, for providing her with photos of local diamonds and assisting her with documentation for her program. Her new diamond from the Murfreesboro locality adds another locality to her diamond collection from around the world.

[@canadiangemstones7636]

Fun trip!

[@ptzish]

My hometown is 30 minutes away from the mine. I've been several times. People have been sifting the very top of that field for decades. It's been commercially mined for much longer. There can't be any diamonds left on the top. To keep the party going the park officials must just throw out a few diamonds every season. It would be great if they could really turn over the top 6 feet or so but they'll never invest that kind of capital.

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[@joimeek]

1 min was my max listening to you

[@edwingemstone]

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[@fabianmadrigal3548]

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'Promo SM'