End of a Mystery: What is Below the Surface?
Ever since John Huddleston discovered the first diamonds here in 1906, people have wondered what lies under the volcanic soil in Southwest Arkansas. How deep and how large is this diamond deposit? From 1990 to 1997, Arkansas State Parks and several international mining companies conducted tests in two phases to help answer these questions. During Phase 1, core samples were collected with a drilling rig to measure the size and shape of the diamond bearing crater. At that time the crater was found to be the 8th largest diamond deposit in the world, reaching more than 669 feet deep and containing more than 46 milion cubic yards of ore. During Phase II, mining companies processed more than 9,000 tons of ore and recovered 210 diamonds weighing 47:48 carats. This confirmed that there are many diamonds in this large deposit. However, gem quality was not commercially profitable at the time, and interest in further testing diminished. See exhibits in the visitor center and Diamond Discovery Center for more details about the mine evaluation program and results.