Park visitor finds 5.47-carat diamond

**Adri** · 21st October 2006, 06:42 PM

MURFREESBORO, Arkansas (AP) -- A Wisconsin man visiting a state park took home the ultimate souvenir: a 5.47-carat canary diamond.

Bob Wehle of Ripon, Wisconsin, found the diamond at the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro October 14. The park is the world's only publicly operated diamond site where visitors are allowed to search and keep any gems they find.

Wehle's 5.47-carat diamond is bright yellow and has no visible flaws, said Tom Stolarz, park superintendent. It is the second-largest gem unearthed this year at the park.

"At first glance, it makes you think of lemon drop candy," Stolarz said.

The largest diamond this year was found by a Texas couple. Donald and Brenda Roden of Point, Texas, found a 6.35-carat brown diamond in September.

Bill Henderson, assistant park superintendent, said park officials don't estimate values of the stones found by visitors. But he said Wehle's gem was identical in quality to -- but larger than -- a 4.21-carat flawless canary diamond found in the park in March that was valued by a New York diamond expert at $15,000 to $60,000.

The largest diamond ever discovered in the United States was unearthed in Arkansas in 1924. Named the Uncle Sam, the white diamond weighed 40.23 carats.

:shocked:

**DiP** · 22nd October 2006, 04:36 AM

I now know the destination, just need to know when to book the vacation.

John · 22nd October 2006, 04:45 AM

I live not to far from that place and I've been there several times over the years and never found anything. I am actually suprised that someone found something there.

**Adri** · 22nd October 2006, 08:03 AM

I wonder how long he was out there looking before he found it.

Rhus Radicans · 22nd October 2006, 10:57 AM

I live in NC not too far from Hiddenite, where a guy keeps digging up monster emeralds. He used to be unemployed, BTW. :grin: The first gold find in the US was also here in NC, at Reed Gold Mine, a few miles from where I live; the first discovery was a huge nugget in matrix rock that was used as a doorstop for several years until taken to town to be verified by a geologist. It melted out to several pounds of gold. :shocked:

**DiP** · 23rd October 2006, 07:06 AM

I found quartz once...

ok, not once, probably 100's of times.

**Maddux** · 23rd October 2006, 07:16 AM

I'm glad there is something in Arkansas to give ppl hope there.

**DiP** · 23rd October 2006, 07:17 AM

Eowyna Rohanna · 23rd October 2006, 10:28 AM

21st October 2006, 06:42 PM	#1
Adri Wearing metal panties in a lightning storm Join Date: May 2004 Shard: Pacific/Landroval Posts: 3,755 Gold: 5,600 My Mood: Thanks: 175 Thanked 92 Times in 65 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 2	Park visitor finds 5.47-carat diamond MURFREESBORO, Arkansas (AP) -- A Wisconsin man visiting a state park took home the ultimate souvenir: a 5.47-carat canary diamond. Bob Wehle of Ripon, Wisconsin, found the diamond at the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro October 14. The park is the world's only publicly operated diamond site where visitors are allowed to search and keep any gems they find. Wehle's 5.47-carat diamond is bright yellow and has no visible flaws, said Tom Stolarz, park superintendent. It is the second-largest gem unearthed this year at the park. "At first glance, it makes you think of lemon drop candy," Stolarz said. The largest diamond this year was found by a Texas couple. Donald and Brenda Roden of Point, Texas, found a 6.35-carat brown diamond in September. Bill Henderson, assistant park superintendent, said park officials don't estimate values of the stones found by visitors. But he said Wehle's gem was identical in quality to -- but larger than -- a 4.21-carat flawless canary diamond found in the park in March that was valued by a New York diamond expert at $15,000 to $60,000. The largest diamond ever discovered in the United States was unearthed in Arkansas in 1924. Named the Uncle Sam, the white diamond weighed 40.23 carats. :shocked: We are all broken and wounded in this world. Some choose to grow strong at the broken places. --Harold J. Duarte-Bernhardt Thanks to Atlas for the fantastic sig!

22nd October 2006, 04:36 AM	#2
DiP Ronin<br>UOForums Bouncer Join Date: Jan 2006 Shard: Black Water Raiders, Azeroth Posts: 9,140 Gold: 19,412 My Mood: Thanks: 140 Thanked 100 Times in 84 Posts	Re: Park visitor finds 5.47-carat diamond I now know the destination, just need to know when to book the vacation. Thanks again Maddux! Adri: women don't discuss men while in the bathroom, we sacrifice small animals and smoke tampons rolls eyes

22nd October 2006, 04:45 AM	#3
John Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 28 Gold: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Park visitor finds 5.47-carat diamond I live not to far from that place and I've been there several times over the years and never found anything. I am actually suprised that someone found something there.

22nd October 2006, 08:03 AM	#4
Adri Wearing metal panties in a lightning storm Join Date: May 2004 Shard: Pacific/Landroval Posts: 3,755 Gold: 5,600 My Mood: Thanks: 175 Thanked 92 Times in 65 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 2	Re: Park visitor finds 5.47-carat diamond I wonder how long he was out there looking before he found it. We are all broken and wounded in this world. Some choose to grow strong at the broken places. --Harold J. Duarte-Bernhardt Thanks to Atlas for the fantastic sig!

22nd October 2006, 10:57 AM	#5
Rhus Radicans Join Date: Apr 2006 Shard: Catskills Posts: 603 Gold: 20 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Park visitor finds 5.47-carat diamond I live in NC not too far from Hiddenite, where a guy keeps digging up monster emeralds. He used to be unemployed, BTW. :grin: The first gold find in the US was also here in NC, at Reed Gold Mine, a few miles from where I live; the first discovery was a huge nugget in matrix rock that was used as a doorstop for several years until taken to town to be verified by a geologist. It melted out to several pounds of gold. :shocked:

23rd October 2006, 07:06 AM	#6
DiP Ronin<br>UOForums Bouncer Join Date: Jan 2006 Shard: Black Water Raiders, Azeroth Posts: 9,140 Gold: 19,412 My Mood: Thanks: 140 Thanked 100 Times in 84 Posts	Re: Park visitor finds 5.47-carat diamond I found quartz once... ok, not once, probably 100's of times. Thanks again Maddux! Adri: women don't discuss men while in the bathroom, we sacrifice small animals and smoke tampons rolls eyes

23rd October 2006, 07:16 AM	#7
Maddux I've got Skinnies with RPGS! Twelve o'clock! Join Date: Jan 2006 Shard: Pacific Posts: 6,504 Gold: 21,709 Thanks: 20 Thanked 53 Times in 42 Posts	Re: Park visitor finds 5.47-carat diamond I'm glad there is something in Arkansas to give ppl hope there.

23rd October 2006, 07:17 AM	#8
DiP Ronin<br>UOForums Bouncer Join Date: Jan 2006 Shard: Black Water Raiders, Azeroth Posts: 9,140 Gold: 19,412 My Mood: Thanks: 140 Thanked 100 Times in 84 Posts	Re: Park visitor finds 5.47-carat diamond Lol Thanks again Maddux! Adri: women don't discuss men while in the bathroom, we sacrifice small animals and smoke tampons rolls eyes

23rd October 2006, 10:28 AM	#9
Eowyna Rohanna I may not be the queen of everything, but I'm the duchess of quite a lot Join Date: Jan 2006 Shard: Landroval--LOTRO Posts: 1,465 Gold: 5,802 Thanks: 11 Thanked 20 Times in 15 Posts	Re: Park visitor finds 5.47-carat diamond rofl Thanks to Maddux for the wonderful sig!

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