Barry G. Smith Discovers 2.29-Carat Yellow Diamond at Arkansas State Park
Barry G. Smith, a grandfather from Germantown, Tennessee, discovered a 2.29-carat yellow diamond while visiting Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas. The discovery occurred on August 16 during a family trip with his wife and two granddaughters, Sage and Juniper. While searching the East Drain section of the park's 37.5-acre diamond search area, Smith spotted a glimmering stone after approximately 30 minutes. He initially mistook the gem for mica, a common mineral in the area, or quartz. He placed the stone in his shirt pocket and continued searching until the family decided to head inside around noon due to the heat. Before going to lunch, Smith took the find to the Diamond Discovery Center for inspection. Park staff confirmed the stone was a canary yellow diamond, which is the rarest variety found in the park. Smith named the gem the Sage Juniper Diamond after his granddaughters. The diamond is approximately the size of a black-eyed pea and is the third-largest diamond found at the park this year. As of the publication of the release, 351 diamonds have been registered by park guests in 2026.
Sources
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Grandfather finds hidden treasure in plain sight as park officials 'dumbfounded' by discovery
Fox News
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Tennessean visiting Crater of Diamonds names third-largest gem of 2026 after granddaughters
texarkanagazette.com
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Grandfather finds 2.29-carat yellow diamond in Arkansas park
KHBS
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Grandfather Finds Gorgeous 2.29-Carat Diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park
Outdoor Wire