A Texas man unearthed an unexpected treasure during a family trip this winter — all thanks to his sons and wife’s Siri search.
Arkansas State Parks recently shared news of the find, which was made at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Pike County. Forty-one-year-old James Ward unearthed the 2.09 carat brown diamond on December 30.
Ward, who lives in Cypress, Texas, visited the park with his wife Elizabeth and their two young sons, Adrian, 9, and Austin, 7.
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According to Elizabeth Ward, visiting the park was the 7-year-old’s idea.
“One day we were watching TV, and Austin came and said, ‘Mommy, Mommy, is there a place in Texas or nearby where we can mine crystals?’” the mother recalled.
She did a quick search with Siri and found information about Crater of Diamonds State Park.
“I sent the link to James, and he said, ‘Oh wait, it’s only six hours away. We can go!'” Elizabeth Ward added.
“Listen to your children about their dreams and what they want to do!”
The gem, called the Ward Diamond, was found on the family’s second day of searching.
The first day was long and cold, but 9-year-old Adrian encouraged the family to come back the next day – when the gem was found.
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“I didn’t know what it was, but I knew it was different than anything else I had found,” the father said.
Waymon Cox, an assistant park superintendent, compared the diamond to a kernel of corn.
“[It has] a dark yellow-brown shade and a beautiful, metallic sheen [that’s] characteristic of all crater diamonds,” says Cox.
Park officials described the Ward Diamond as having a dark tan hue and metallic sheen. (Arkansas State Parks)
He added that crater diamonds formed in the Earth’s upper mantle and were “carried to the surface by an ancient volcanic pipe” millions of years ago.
“Most have been chipped, broken or defective due to the immense geological forces they have endured,” Cox said.
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“Given its current size, you can imagine how much larger Mr. Ward’s diamond could have been as a complete crystal.”
What the diamond offers is unknown – and Ward said he is open to selling or keeping it.
The diamond was created on the second day after cold weather cut short the family’s first attempt. (Arkansas State Parks)
“I’ll have to see how much it’s worth first,” he said.
Ward also encouraged fellow park visitors not to give up on their first day of digging.
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“Listen to your children about their dreams and what they want to do!” his wife added.
Arkansas State Parks told Fox News Digital that park employees “are not trained to assess or appraise diamonds or other rocks and minerals.”
“I’ll have to see how much it’s worth,” Ward said of his rare find. (Arkansas State Parks)
“Our primary training is to properly identify and record diamonds for guests who find them,” the official said.
“Anyone interested in grading or appraising their diamonds can contact a certified gemologist, who has undergone special training to properly assess the quality of gemstones and estimate their value.”
Ward’s discovery adds to a growing list of substantial gemstones found by visitors to Crater of Diamonds State Park.
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An Oklahoma family unearthed a 2.79-carat diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park in September, thanks to tools they bought at a dollar store.
In April, a Minnesota resident unearthed a beautiful 3.81-carat brown diamond in the park – a find he likened to a candy wrapper.
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