Rare 6.03-Carat Yellow Diamond Discovered at Arkansas’ Crater of Diamonds State Park
A remarkable discovery at Arkansas’ Crater of Diamonds State Park has captivated gem enthusiasts, as two visitors unearthed a 6.03-carat canary yellow diamond during a live-streamed search. The find, confirmed on February 6, is considered one of the largest ever registered at the park and highlights the enduring allure of this unique geological site.
A 35-year-old man from Nashville, Arkansas, identified as Jack Pearadin, made the stunning find while sifting through gravel on TikTok Live on January 25. Pearadin and his friend, 43-year-old Michael Schumacher of Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin, had excavated the dirt from the park’s south search area in late December and subsequently processed the concentrated material.
The search occurred shortly after a winter storm had blanketed the region with over an inch of ice, presenting significant challenges in washing and sorting the gravel. “I was about eight feet away, and for some reason I turned back and saw it glowing from the center of the pile,” Pearadin recounted, adding that he had to carefully dig with a spoon to free the gem. “I was shaking!”
Schumacher, who had already returned to Wisconsin, witnessed the discovery unfold via the livestream. He recalled a previous, almost prophetic remark he made to Pearadin. “Don’t worry about it, dude,” Schumacher remembered saying about the unsorted gravel. “That big, flawless canary that’s in there is just growing!” He promptly returned to Arkansas to join his friend.
Park officials were equally impressed by the find. Assistant Superintendent Waymon Cox described the diamond as “absolutely stunning,” noting its unusual 48-sided crystal structure – a hexoctahedron – which is less common than the 12- or 24-faced diamonds typically found at the park.
The diamond, roughly the size of a gumdrop, ranks as the fourth-largest yellow diamond and the 22nd-largest diamond of any color discovered at Crater of Diamonds since it became a state park in 1972. It represents the 27th diamond registered at the park in 2026.
Inspired by the song “Sh-Boom (Life Could Be a Dream)” and the nation’s 250th anniversary, the friends have affectionately named their discovery the “Pearadin Schumacher American Dream Diamond.”
For Pearadin, the excitement stemmed less from potential monetary value and more from the thrill of the hunt itself. “I personally was never looking for this — I just enjoy the experience,” he explained. Schumacher echoed this sentiment, describing the search as a dream he intends to pursue “until I absolutely can’t do it anymore.”
