Jack Pearadin, a Navy reservist and longtime gem hunter, discovered a rare 6.03-carat yellow diamond named the "American Dream" on January 25 while livestreaming his hunt at Arkansas' Crater of Diamonds State Park. The find was made after he collected gravel following a winter storm that left ice in the area. Laura Stanley, a certified gem appraiser, estimates the diamond could sell for about $250,000 based on its quality and rarity.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Jack Pearadin, a Navy reservist and avid diamond hunter based in Arkansas, discovered a rare 6.03-carat yellow diamond on January 25, 2024, at the Crater of Diamonds State Park. This significant find is the largest diamond unearthed this year at the park. While collectors have suggested it could be worth up to $1 million, gem experts estimate its value closer to around $250,000 due to its size and quality. Pearadin has been hunting for diamonds since 2013 and found over 300 gems before this discovery. The diamond was named "American Dream" by him and his friend Michael Schumacher from Wisconsin.
Written for “Arkansas Diamond Finds” on 2026-10-07,
grounded in this article and the 3 other(s) covering the same event.
A longtime gem hunter who struck it big with a rare yellow diamond is now opening up about the remarkable discovery — and what it may be worth.
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it → strike → discovery
Jack Pearadin, a Navy reservist, found the gem at the Crater of Diamonds State Park earlier this year.
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Pearadin → find → Park
The gem, which Pearadin named the "American Dream," weighs 6.03 carats.
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Pearadin → name → carats
It has a striking golden-yellow color and an unusual, almost square shape.
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It → have → color
Though the discovery was first announced earlier this year, Pearadin recently opened up about the find to The Associated Press.
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Pearadin → announce → Press
Arkansas state officials said Pearadin discovered the diamond during a Jan. 25 TikTok livestream while processing a bucket of gravel that he and his friend, Michael Schumacher, had collected from the park's search area in late December.
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he → say → December
Schumacher was traveling at the time.
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Schumacher → travel → time
The hunt came shortly after a winter storm coated the area with more than an inch of ice, making it especially difficult to sift and wash the gravel.
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it → come → gravel
"I was about eight feet away, and for some reason I turned back and saw [the gem] glowing from the center of the pile," Pearadin said.
"
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Pearadin → turn → pile
I had to go almost to the bottom of the pile to pull it out, it was so big.
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it → have → it
I was shaking!"
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I → shake → ?
Pearadin's reaction was captured in real time during a TikTok livestream.
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reaction → capture → livestream
Oh my God!" he was recorded as saying.
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he → record → ?
"We got a big one!"
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We → get → one
Pearadin told the AP that some collectors said the diamond could be worth as much as $1 million.
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diamond → tell → AP
Park officials previously told Fox News Digital that park employees "are not trained to grade or appraise diamonds or other rocks and minerals."
"Our primary training involves properly identifying and registering diamonds for guests who find them," an Arkansas State Parks official said.
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official → tell → them
"Anyone interested in having their diamonds graded or appraised can reach out to a certified gemologist, who has had special training to properly grade gemstone quality and estimate value."
"It’s the only place in America where you can go find your own diamond, and you can’t compare that to a diamond from anywhere else."
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you → have → diamond
Laura Stanley, a certified gem appraiser in Little Rock, told the AP that a high-quality six-carat yellow diamond from the park could sell for about $250,000.
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diamond → tell → 250,000
"They are their own entity," Stanley said.
"
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Stanley → say → ?
It’s the only place in America where you can go find your own diamond, and you can’t compare that to a diamond from anywhere else.
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you → ’ → diamond
"
Pearadin has been searching for diamonds at the park since 2013 and even moved to nearby Murfreesboro to pursue the hobby, according to the AP.
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Pearadin → search → AP
"I love it that much," he told the outlet.
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he → love → outlet
Pearadin has sold most of the diamonds he has personally found through online sales.
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he → sell → sales
For the "American Dream," Pearadin said he plans to split any profits with Schumacher, who helped collect the gravel containing the stone.
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who → say → stone
He hopes to use the money to open his own crystal mine.
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He → hop → mine
Fox News Digital reached out to Pearadin for further comment.
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Digital → reach → comment
Pearadin's discovery is one of several notable diamonds unearthed at Crater of Diamonds State Park this year.
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discovery → unearth → Park
This summer, officials announced that a grieving Pennsylvania woman had discovered a 3.09-carat diamond at the park, just days after burying her father and months after losing her son.
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woman → announce → son
On Aug. 29, officials announced that a Tennessee grandfather had discovered a 2.29-carat yellow diamond while searching the park.
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grandfather → announce → park
The Associated Press contributed reporting.
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Press → contribute → reporting
The Aporia
