Texas husband and father finds 2.09-carat diamond at Arkansas park together with his youngsters

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A Texas man unearthed an surprising treasure throughout a family trip this winter — all due to his sons and his spouse's Siri search.

Arkansas State Parks not too long ago shared information in regards to the discover, which was made at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Pike County. Forty-one-year-old James Ward unearthed the two.09-carat brown diamond on Dec. 30.

Ward, who lives in Cypress, Texas, was visiting the park together with his spouse, Elizabeth, and their two young sons , Adrian, 9, and Austin, 7.

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Visiting the park was the 7-year-old's concept, in line with Elizabeth Ward.

"Sooner or later we have been watching TV, and Austin got here and stated, ‘Mommy, Mommy, is there anywhere in Texas or close by that we will mine for crystals? ’" the mom recalled.

<source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/343/192/arkansas-man-digs-up-brown-diamond-with-family-archaeology-geology-discovery-3.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/686/384/arkansas-man-digs-up-brown-diamond-with-family-archaeology-geology-discovery-3.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="192" width="343"><source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/672/378/arkansas-man-digs-up-brown-diamond-with-family-archaeology-geology-discovery-3.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/1344/756/arkansas-man-digs-up-brown-diamond-with-family-archaeology-geology-discovery-3.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/931/523/arkansas-man-digs-up-brown-diamond-with-family-archaeology-geology-discovery-3.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/1862/1046/arkansas-man-digs-up-brown-diamond-with-family-archaeology-geology-discovery-3.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"><source media="(min-width: 1280px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/720/405/arkansas-man-digs-up-brown-diamond-with-family-archaeology-geology-discovery-3.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/1440/810/arkansas-man-digs-up-brown-diamond-with-family-archaeology-geology-discovery-3.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="405" width="720"> James Ward of Cypress, Texas, discovered the diamond whereas visiting the Arkansas park together with his spouse and two younger sons. (Arkansas State Parks)

She shortly searched with Siri and located info on Crater of Diamonds State Park .

"I despatched the hyperlink to James, and he’s like, ‘Oh wait, that’s solely like six hours away. We are able to go!’" added Elizabeth Ward.

"Hearken to your youngsters about their goals and what they need to do!"

The gem, named the Ward Diamond, was discovered on the household's second day of looking.

The primary day was lengthy and chilly, however 9-year-old Adrian inspired the household to come back again the subsequent day — when the gem was discovered.

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"I didn’t know what it was, however I knew it was completely different than the whole lot else I had discovered," stated the dad.

Waymon Cox, an assistant park superintendent, in contrast the diamond to a corn kernel.

"[It has] a darkish yellowish-brown hue and a gorgeous, metallic luster [that's] attribute of all Crater diamonds," stated Cox.

<source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/343/192/arkansas-man-digs-up-brown-diamond-with-family-archaeology-geology-discovery-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/686/384/arkansas-man-digs-up-brown-diamond-with-family-archaeology-geology-discovery-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="192" width="343"><source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/672/378/arkansas-man-digs-up-brown-diamond-with-family-archaeology-geology-discovery-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/1344/756/arkansas-man-digs-up-brown-diamond-with-family-archaeology-geology-discovery-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/931/523/arkansas-man-digs-up-brown-diamond-with-family-archaeology-geology-discovery-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/1862/1046/arkansas-man-digs-up-brown-diamond-with-family-archaeology-geology-discovery-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"><source media="(min-width: 1280px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/720/405/arkansas-man-digs-up-brown-diamond-with-family-archaeology-geology-discovery-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/1440/810/arkansas-man-digs-up-brown-diamond-with-family-archaeology-geology-discovery-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="405" width="720"> Park officers described the Ward Diamond as having a darkish yellowish-brown hue and metallic luster. (Arkansas State Parks)

He added that crater diamonds fashioned in Earth's upper mantle — and "have been carried to the floor by an historic volcanic pipe" thousands and thousands of years in the past.

"Most are chipped, damaged or embrace flaws from the immense geological forces they endured," Cox stated.

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"Given its present dimension, you possibly can think about how a lot greater Mr. Ward’s diamond may need been as an entire crystal."

What lies forward for the diamond is unknown — and Ward stated he is open to promoting it or preserving it.

<source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/343/192/arkansas-man-digs-up-brown-diamond-with-family-archaeology-geology-discovery-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/686/384/arkansas-man-digs-up-brown-diamond-with-family-archaeology-geology-discovery-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="192" width="343"><source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/672/378/arkansas-man-digs-up-brown-diamond-with-family-archaeology-geology-discovery-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/1344/756/arkansas-man-digs-up-brown-diamond-with-family-archaeology-geology-discovery-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/931/523/arkansas-man-digs-up-brown-diamond-with-family-archaeology-geology-discovery-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/1862/1046/arkansas-man-digs-up-brown-diamond-with-family-archaeology-geology-discovery-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"><source media="(min-width: 1280px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/720/405/arkansas-man-digs-up-brown-diamond-with-family-archaeology-geology-discovery-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/1440/810/arkansas-man-digs-up-brown-diamond-with-family-archaeology-geology-discovery-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="405" width="720"> The diamond emerged on the second day after chilly climate minimize brief the household’s first try. (Arkansas State Parks)

"I’ll must see how a lot it’s value first," he stated.

Ward additionally inspired fellow park guests not to surrender on their first day of digging.

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"Hearken to your youngsters about their goals and what they need to do!" his spouse added.

Arkansas State Parks instructed Fox Information Digital that park workers "should not educated to grade or appraise diamonds or different rocks and minerals."

<source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/343/192/arkansas-man-digs-up-brown-diamond-with-family-archaeology-geology-discovery-4.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/686/384/arkansas-man-digs-up-brown-diamond-with-family-archaeology-geology-discovery-4.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="192" width="343"><source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/672/378/arkansas-man-digs-up-brown-diamond-with-family-archaeology-geology-discovery-4.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/1344/756/arkansas-man-digs-up-brown-diamond-with-family-archaeology-geology-discovery-4.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/931/523/arkansas-man-digs-up-brown-diamond-with-family-archaeology-geology-discovery-4.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/1862/1046/arkansas-man-digs-up-brown-diamond-with-family-archaeology-geology-discovery-4.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"><source media="(min-width: 1280px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/720/405/arkansas-man-digs-up-brown-diamond-with-family-archaeology-geology-discovery-4.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/1440/810/arkansas-man-digs-up-brown-diamond-with-family-archaeology-geology-discovery-4.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="405" width="720"> "I’ll must see how a lot it is value," stated Ward about his uncommon discover. (Arkansas State Parks)

"Our main coaching entails correctly figuring out and registering diamonds for friends who discover them," the official stated.

"Anybody occupied with having their diamonds graded or appraised can attain out to a licensed gemologist, who has had particular coaching to correctly grade gemstone quality and estimate worth."

Ward's discovery provides to a rising checklist of considerable gems discovered by guests at Crater of Diamonds State Park.

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An Oklahoma household unearthed a 2.79-carat diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park again in September, due to instruments they purchased at a greenback retailer.