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Crater Of Diamonds
(North
America)
The oldest and most famous diamond mine in North America
is the Crater of Diamonds which is just south of
Murfreesboro, Arkansas. In 1906, diamonds were found
after John Wesley Huddleston bought the land to farm. He
noticed two small stones in the bottom of the bucket of
cattle feed. The stones were sent to Little Rock
jeweler who sent them to Tiffany's in New York and both
stones were certified as gem quality. One was graded a
3.0 carat, white in color and the other was graded a 1.5
carat and yellow in color. Upon his discovery of
diamonds, Huddleston sold his property to some men from
Little Rock for $36,000.
The Early Years
After the first diamond was found at
Murfreesboro in 1906 by John Huddleston who owned the property, several
attempts at commercial exploitation of the site failed. The only
significant yields came from the original surface layer, where erosion
over a long period of time had concentrated diamonds. In the early
period, 1907-1932, yields from this "black gumbo" surface material often
exceeded thirty carats per hundred loads (standard 1600-pound tramload
of the early period); highest yields from the undisturbed subsurface
material (best described as "kimberlite" or volcanic breccia, not
"lamproite") were two carats per hundred loads in 1908 and about two
carats per hundred short tons (2000 pounds)in 1943-1944. Because
equipment of the early period, 1907-1932,usually included bottom screens
with mesh larger than 1/16th, thousands of smaller diamonds were allowed
to pass through. The bulk of these ended up in drainage cuts of varying
depths all over the field and in the big natural drains on the east and
west edges of the diamond-bearing section of the volcanic formation,
which consisted of approximately thirty-five acres of volcanic breccia
on the east side.
The Recent Decades
In recent decades, those small diamonds have
been the bread-and-butter of recreational diamond-digging. Soon after
the original diamond was found, a "diamond rush" turned Murfreesboro
into a boomtown for a time. According to old tales, hotels in
Murfreesboro turned away 10,000 people in the space of a year.
Supposedly these refugees formed a tent city near the mine which was
named "Kimberly" in hopeful honor of the famous Kimberley diamond
district in South Africa. On the other hand, all available evidence
indicates the Town of Kimberly originated as a land-development venture
in 1909, initiated by Mallard M. Mauney and his oldest son Walter on
their thirty acres of land immediately south of Murfreesboro. The
project failed soon afterward as the speculative boom generated by the
diamond discovery collapsed.
How it is Today?
Today the Kimberly area is almost all cow
pasture, owned by Mauney's descendants. From 1951 to 1972, the crater
hosted several private tourist attractions. The first, The Diamond
Preserve of the United States, lasted only about one year. In late 1951,
Howard A. Millar stepped in and salvaged the infant tourist industry. In
April 1952, Millar and wife, Modean, launched their "Crater of Diamonds"
attraction. Howard Millar, an accomplished writer and promoter, stirred
unprecedented national publicity and drew enough visitors to sustain the
operation. In March 1956, a visitor found the "Star of Arkansas" on the
cleared surface. The rare beauty weighed 15.33 carats. Later, Roscoe
Johnston opened a rival tourist attraction, the "Arkansas Diamond Mine,"
on the main part of the diamond field.
Read about all Famous Diamond Mines
The 1867 discovery of diamonds in
the Cape Colony, now a province in South Africa, radically
modified not only the world's supply of diamonds but also
its conception of them. As annual world diamond production
increased more than tenfold in the following 10 years, a
once extremely rare material became more accessible to
Western society with its growing wealth, science learned
that diamonds came from volcanoes, and everyone learned of
Cecil John Rhodes, Barney Barnato, Kimberley, and De Beers.
Today South Africa maintains its position as a major diamond
producer although diamond mining started in India around the
14th century and continued for decades to come...
Read more...
Wolrd's Famous Diamonds
The story of the Agra Diamond begins
in 1526 when Babur, the first Mogul
emperor (1483-1530) took possession
of Agra after defeating the Rajah of
Gwailor in battle. Babur was the son
of Omar Sheik, King of Ferghana (now
Turkestan),...
Read more...
World's Largest Diamonds
The largest faceted diamond in the world is the Golden
Jubilee, weighing 545.67 carats. It is a Fancy Brownish-Yellow color and
"fire rose cushion cut." It is unusual also because it has a certain
type of rare color banding. The second largest faceted diamond in the
world is the Star of Africa, also known as the Cullinan I. It weighs
530.20 carats and is a pear shape with 74 facets. The third largest
diamond in the world is the Incomparable. It is a golden yellow-orange
color, pear shaped, and weighs 407 carats. The fourth largest faceted
diamond in the world is the Cullinan II. It was cut from the same stone
as the Star of Africa - aka Cullinan I. It weighs 317.40 carats and is a
cushion cut...
Read more...
Renowned Diamond Cutting Centers
Diamonds being easily transportable and
being of high value allows them to be
moved to the most efficient and economic
locations for further processing. The
several factors that are considered in
determining the location of a diamond
cutting facility...
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Diamonds in Literature and Poetry
Diamonds have taken an important space in our ideas and
dreams of celebration, enjoyment, expression of love and
happiness. There are famous and popular quotes about or
referencing diamonds. Some that you may have heard or
read and other that you may not have. Read and
enjoy......
Read more..
The Diamond Cartel
For more than 100 years, the name De Beers has evoked
all glamour and mystery radiated by a diamond. Through
shrewd marketing and careful manipulation of the market,
the South African company. Learn about the over 100
years of the Oppenheimer family's grip over diamond
trade of the entire world.....
Read more..
History of Diamonds
The history of diamonds. Before the Medieval era Diamonds were worn
rough, or cut and polished only on their upper surfaces. It was in this
form that diamonds used to ornament temples, goblets, reliquaries, and
crowns. The history of cutting Diamonds dates back to the beginning of
the 1400's in Paris. Diamonds became popular in jewelry and from this
time the history of diamonds accelerated and many famous diamonds were
cut. Read on the history timeline of diamonds details important dates
relating to famous diamonds and the history of diamonds....
Read more...
Read about Diamond History, Diamond Facts..
A symbol of innocence, justice,
faith and strength, the diamond was believed to make its wearers
courageous and victorious over their enemies. When set in gold and worn
on the left side, it held the power to drive away nightmares and soothe
savage beasts. Diamonds were even thought to be so powerful that they
could stop lechery. Diamonds have lured and fascinated us....
Back to Diamond
Information Summary...
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Famous Diamond Mines - Crater of Diamonds
