Indiana visitor to Crater of Diamonds State Park shovels up a stunning 2.71-carat white diamond

Dewy White of Paoli, Indiana, struck it big during a visit to Crater of Diamonds State Park on October 2, uncovering a stunning 2.71-carat white diamond while on a road trip with his wife

The couple kicked off their adventure at the park, spending two days sifting through the 37.5-acre search area before continuing their journey.

On their return, they dedicated three more days to the park. Armed with screens purchased en route to Murfreesboro, White took the advice of a fellow visitor he met on his first day, who recommended digging in the shaded Canary Hill area near the south wash pavilion.

“He seemed like he knew what he was doing,” White said, appreciating the tip.

White spent most of his time dry sifting, meticulously breaking up dirt by hand and sifting it through mesh screens without water. Each piece of quartz or calcite sparked excitement, but it was a glimmer in his shovel that stopped him in his tracks.

 “The minute I saw it, I knew,” White recalled, describing the round, pea-sized gem as looking like a “metal piece of glass.” Overjoyed, he shouted, “Thank you, Jesus!” and rushed the find to the park’s rock and mineral identification table.

While park staff confirmed the 2.71-carat white diamond, White called his wife to share the news. He named the gem the Hope Diamond, a nod to his wish to find one during their visit.

Before leaving, White expressed gratitude to the kind strangers he met in the search area, particularly the person who guided him to the fruitful spot.White’s Hope Diamond ranks as the fourth-largest diamond registered at the park this year.

As of now, 414 diamonds have been recorded at Crater of Diamonds State Park in 2025, cementing its reputation as a treasure hunter’s paradise.