How to Hunt for Diamonds: A Guide to Crater of Diamonds State Park
Imagine stepping onto a giant, plowed field of dark dirt where real diamonds are waiting to be found. At Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas, anyone can become a treasure hunter. This state park is one of the only places in the world where the public can search for real diamonds and keep what they find. To have the best chance of finding a precious gem, you must follow a special, step-by-step process used by professional miners. Here is how to dig, wet-sift, and find your very own diamond.
Step 1: Gather Your Equipment
Before heading out into the 37-acre search area, you need the right tools. You can bring your own or rent them at the park. You will need a sturdy shovel, a large bucket, and a set of sifting screens. The sifting screens usually come in a pair: a top screen with large wire mesh to catch big rocks, and a bottom screen with fine mesh to catch smaller gravel and gems.
- Sifting:
- A process of separating larger chunks of material from smaller ones using a screen or mesh.
- Submerge:
- To place something completely under the surface of water.
- Luster:
- The way light reflects off the surface of a mineral, describing its shine or appearance.
- Gully:
- A small valley or trench worn into the earth by running water.
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- 1Where is Crater of Diamonds State Park located?
- 2Why is this state park unique compared to most other places in the world?
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About this how-to / procedural passage for Upper Elementary
“How to Hunt for Diamonds: A Guide to Crater of Diamonds State Park” is a how-to / procedural reading passage about Diamond Hunting and Wet-Sifting, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 4 minutes to read (591 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.