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Longmont Woman Finds 8.52 Carat Diamond At Arkansas Park

MURFREESBORO, Ark. (AP) — An 8.52 carat diamond has been found by a Colorado woman at Arkansas' Crater of Diamonds State Park at Murfreesboro.

Park officials said Friday that the gem found by Bobbie Oskarson of Longmont, Colorado, is the fifth largest diamond found since the park was established in 1972. The park does not provide an estimate of the diamond's potential value.

8.52-carat diamond and Arkansas quarter
8.52-carat diamond and Arkansas quarter (credit: Arkansas Crater of Diamonds State Park)

Park interpreter Waymon Cox said Oskarson found the gem Wednesday in the southwest corner of the 37½ acre search field and named it Esperanza Diamond for her niece's name and the Spanish word for "hope." Cox said the diamond is about three-quarters of an inch long and as big around as a standard No. 2 pencil.

The largest diamond found at the park is 16.37 carats and was discovered in 1975.

(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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