A surprising discovery has been made at the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas, as a large hole was uncovered on the north side of the diamond search area. Park visitors quickly dubbed this cavity the Crater of Diamonds sinkhole, although the term may be misleading.
The hole was initially reported by a park guest after Memorial Day, prompting Park Superintendent Caleb Howell to investigate. Upon inspection, Howell was shocked by the size and location of the cavity, leading to the decision to fence off the area for safety.
Further investigation revealed that the hole was not a natural sinkhole but rather a “yard hole” likely caused by human mining activities in the early 20th century. Arkansas Geological Survey Geology Supervisor Doug Hanson confirmed this assessment, noting that the rock in the area is not conducive to sinkhole formation.
Plans are now underway to excavate and fill in the manmade hole with diamond-bearing material, a process that will take place while the search area is closed to guests in July. Howell expressed confidence in the project moving forward, highlighting the importance of accurately pinpointing potential areas of concern in the diamond search area.
Guests are reminded to stay clear of the fenced-off area and exercise caution. For more information, visitors can contact Crater of Diamonds State Park directly. Despite this unexpected development, diamond hunters continue to make exciting finds in the search area, with recent discoveries including a 23-point yellow diamond. Stay tuned for more updates from the Crater of Diamonds!
