Bank manager finds 9.07-carat diamond in Arkansas state park

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The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism

In this Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, photo provided by The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, is a 9.07 carat diamond found by Kevin Kinard at Crater of Diamonds State Park on Sept, 7, 2020, in Murfreesboro, Ark. Kinard of Maumelle found the second-largest diamond in the 48-year history of Crater of Diamonds State Park on Labor Day, according to a news release from Arkansas State Parks. (Waymon Cox/Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism via AP)

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. ā€“ A bank manager discovered a 9.07-carat diamond at a state park in southwestern Arkansas after thinking the precious gem was a piece of glass.

Kevin Kinard of Maumelle found the second-largest diamond in the 48-year history of Crater of Diamonds State Park on Labor Day, according to a news release from Arkansas State Parks.

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Kinard said he and his friends hauled sifting equipment to the state park in Murfreesboro. Kinard noted that he's been visiting Crater of Diamonds regularly since he was a kid but had never stumbled upon a diamond until Sept. 7.

ā€œI only wet sifted for about ten minutes before I started walking up and down the plowed rows,ā€ he said. ā€œAnything that looked like a crystal, I picked it up and put it in my bag.ā€

While searching in the southeast portion of the 37.5-acre (15 hectare) diamond search area, Kinard scooped up a marble-sized crystal that had a rounded, dimpled shape.

ā€œIt kind of looked interesting and shiny, so I put it in my bag and kept searching,ā€ Kinard said. ā€œI just thought it mightā€™ve been glass.ā€

Several hours later, Kinard said he and his comrades stopped by the parkā€™s Diamond Discovery Center, where park workers identify visitor findings and register diamonds.

ā€œI almost didnā€™t have them check my finds, because I didnā€™t think I had found anything,ā€ Kinard said. ā€œMy friend had hers checked, though, so I went ahead and had them check mine, too.ā€

Upon having his finds assessed, an employee informed Kinard he had discovered a diamond.

ā€œI honestly teared up when they told me,ā€ Kinard said. ā€œI was in complete shock!"

Assistant Superintendent Dru Edmonds noted that conditions were ideal for Kinard to spot the gem.

ā€œPark staff plowed the search area on August 20, just a few days before Tropical Storm Laura dropped more than two inches of rain in the park,ā€ he said. ā€œThe sun was out when Mr. Kinard visited, and he walked just the right path to notice the sunlight reflecting off his diamond.ā€

As of Wednesday, 246 diamonds have been registered at Crater of Diamonds State Park this year, weighing a total of 59.25 carats. On average, people find one or two diamonds there daily.