The state park said it is the second largest diamond registered at the park so far in 2026.
MURFREESBORO, Ark. — A Pennsylvania woman recently experienced good luck while visiting the center. Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas.
Keshia Smith started planning a visit to the state park more than a year ago. She lost her son in October and her father in April, and she hoped the trip would bring her some much-needed comfort.
On her second day at the park, Smith made memories that will last a lifetime.
She was digging in the dirt at the southern end of the park’s 37.5-acre diamond search area. However, as she dug deeper into the ground, she saw the color of the soil change from brown to black.
Then, after a few more scoops, she found something shiny in the shovel. She continued digging, taking the dirt to a washing pavilion on the south side of the park for wet sifting, and after Smith showed the others the sparkling crystals.
“You absolutely need to take it out and look at it,” she was told.
Smith was ecstatic at the thought that he might have found a diamond.
She then took her find to the park’s Diamond Discovery Center, where staff confirmed her beautiful, sparkling diamond was actually a 3.09-carat white diamond.
Upon hearing the news, Smith was once again ecstatic.
“I’ve been feeling a lot of stress over the past six months. I lost my son in October and we just buried my dad a week ago. It’s been a lot of stress!” she said, looking at her diamond. “I really needed this. I really prayed for this and I can’t believe this is actually happening.”
She chose to name her gem the Za’Novia Liberty Diamond.
The name Za’Novia represents the names of her two grandchildren, while Liberty represents the significance of the diamond that found her during America’s 250th anniversary.
Park officials said the Za’Novia Liberty Diamond is the second largest diamond registered at the park so far in 2026.
