In this state, the majority of opal will be found in places you’re looking for… well, things other than opal. The majority of opal is found as a white to off-white stone that’s a bit softer than a chalcedony or quartz variety. In some cases, this leads to the famous internal fire, but this is a relatively rare phenomenon. Unlike glass, here the silica is formed into microscopic spheres that lack a cohesive crystalline structure. It usually emerges as smaller formations on other minerals as well. In other words, it’s not the really bright stuff with a play of color that many people are seeking. The majority of the opal produced in the state is of the common variety. Opal is found in small amounts spread across the state of Arkansas. You can also find quartz, amethyst, and even agates and jaspers in the park. Give it a shot if you’re in the area, the small fee is worth the experience.įor what it’s worth, there’s far more than diamonds contained in the ground here. While large diamonds are incredibly rare, some are still found in the region, and even a small one is a great souvenir. The end result?Ī great place for tourists or locals to head for their chance to find a diamond. The area has a long history of producing diamonds, initially on a commercial basis before transitioning into a tourist location as the surface diamonds were mined. The diamonds are centered in Crater of Diamonds State Park.
Small and impure diamonds usually end up as part of the industrial trade. Indeed, the only way to cut diamonds is with diamonds. Their high hardness means that small chunks of them can be used as an abrasive on the vast majority of materials. It’s less about the sparkle, in that case, and more about the fact that diamonds are one of only a handful of stones that can be safely heated to soldering temperatures during a piece of jewelry’s construction.ĭiamonds are also useful for making tools. Diamonds are incredibly hard gemstones, and they’re one of the key pieces of fine jewelry.
In addition to rock crystal, Arkansas is one of the few places in the United States that produces diamonds. There are countless paid digs and spots where you can dig your own quartz while in the region, but the following are a good start:
The findings from the journals of historic geologists are incredible to read for anyone with a historic interest in minerals. Before industrialization, some areas of the mountains had portions covered in loose crystalline quartz. There are artifacts dated at 11,000 years old made from it. Quartz has been known in the area since neolithic times. Quartz is the macrocrystalline formation of silica, and in Arkansas, these crystals grew with incredible beauty and regularity. The entire area is dotted with spots rich in crystals. Some of The Best Places To Dig Crystals in ArkansasĪ large portion of these crystals are found in the Ouachita Mountains, where silica-laden water and the clash of tectonic plates created a perfect environment for them.Arkansas crystals are usually high-quality, with high clarity and great formations. The only rival to their incredible production is in Brazil. The industry regularly produces incredible specimens in enormous sizes. If there’s one thing that Arkansas is famous for, at least among rockhounds, it’s the crystals that are pulled from the earth regularly.
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