A simple question to a virtual assistant led to a remarkable discovery at Crater of Diamonds State Park, where a Texas family uncovered a 2.09-carat brown diamond during a holiday visit.
James Ward, a 41-year-old high school teacher from Cypress, Texas, found the diamond on December 30 while exploring the park’s 37.5-acre diamond search area with his wife, Elizabeth, and their two sons. The family’s trip began after their youngest asked Siri about nearby places to mine for crystals, which led them to Arkansas’ famed diamond field.
After braving cold winter conditions and returning for a second day of searching, Ward spotted a metallic-looking crystal near the park’s West Drain area. Staff at the Diamond Discovery Center later confirmed the find as a 2.09-carat brown diamond, roughly the size of a corn kernel.
Assistant Park Superintendent Waymon Cox said the shield-shaped stone shows the metallic luster typical of diamonds found at the park, noting that many are chipped or broken due to intense geological forces. Ward named the gem the “Ward Diamond” in honor of the family experience.
The discovery was one of five diamonds registered at the park in December. In 2025, park officials recorded 540 diamonds found by visitors.
Located on Arkansas Highway 301, Crater of Diamonds State Park is one of the only places in the world where the public can search for diamonds in their original volcanic source. Since 1906, more than 75,000 diamonds have been unearthed at the site, making it one of Arkansas’ most unique outdoor attractions.
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