Digging Diamonds For A Living
posted 10:47 pm Wed February 13, 2008 - Murfreesboro
We want to introduce you to a man who knows a thing or two about diamonds. He's made finding them his life's work.
This is a guy who sold everything he owned and moved to Murfreesboro Arkansas to live in a tent and dig for diamonds. His method is sophisticated, and it works. He's found over a hundred diamonds, and he's making a living at it.
What some see as nothing more than 37-acres of mud, for others is a field of dreams.
For 35 years now, the adventurous at-heart have combed the crater of Diamond State Park, looking for the next "big one."
Tens of thousands have come here to dig for diamonds, but few with the tenacity of this man.
(Denis Terrell, digging for diamonds)"Boy, when it says like, ten best places to find treasure, you're like, oohhh.23 what would it be like to find treasure?"
To find out, Denis sold all he owned, packed up his truck and set out for Arkansas.
(Terrell)"I wanted to come here and get rid of everything else and just pursue that. That is my dream, is to find diamonds. A lot of them and big ones."
Last year, Dennis found 142 diamonds, worth thousands of dollars. His, biggest find, 3 and a half carats, was just sitting on the surface when it caught his eye.
Most of the time, it takes Denis long hours of back-breaking work to find a diamond. He starts by picking the right spot to dig.
He spends nearly every day hauling buckets--dozens of them to a homemade contraption that weeds out the big stuff.
(Terrell)"This is something I created to just--get rid of the rocks. Throw in another bucket, wash it, and get rid of the rocks."
Next, he uses screens to sift through the muck.
(Terrell)"You're always hoping there's going to be a really nice big one in there."
Not this time--just some quartz. But there's another step.
(Terrell)"This is a saruka...a stainless steel screen on a bicycle rim."
Denis loads up with Arkansas ore, then methodically, he washes it and then he lets it drain.
(Terrell)"And you throw it."
Nothing's there, so Denis keeps throwing time after time after time again, the anticipation growing.
(Terrell)"Your heart starts going thump, thump, thump. Even with the little ones, I still get just as excited inside."
Finally, he thinks he sees something.
(Terrell)"Nope, just a rock."
Then, just as he nears the bottom of the barrel, Denis flips one of the last pans over.
(Terrell)"She's a little pretty one."
(Terrell)"That pays for everything. Right there, as far as the effort."
He finishes the load to make sure there's not another one, then inspects his find a quarter-carat yellow Arkansas diamond.
(Terrell)"See? It's extraordinary. I get all welled up inside."
Denis' fierce determination, like the gem he covets is rare.
(Terrell)"No, I'll always be back here--until I die, yeah."
Dennis plans to leave for a while this summer--he's been hired to dive for Spanish gold off the coast of Florida. He assures us he won't stay gone long.
Latest Comment on Digging Diamonds For A Living
woodswalker
12:47 pm on 02/14/08
oh, how fun!!! i live in pike county, near the crater of diamonds. i've known a number of people over the years who've supplemented their income digging for diamonds. what a great way to make a little extra money and experience the outdoors!!! definitely better than sitting in an office all day, huh!
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