October 25, 2025 00:01

Administrivia.

Wheatie’s Watching.

3. If you bring snacks, bring enough for everyone. <<< T H I S.

2. No running with scissors.

1. No food fights. (Launching dinner rolls encouraged.)

AI stuff posted, requires a link. Please use spoiler, for longer posts.

Wolf Speak. No obnoxious behavior towards fellow QTreeper(s). Freedom of Speech is honored here QTree. But Do Know, every poster, IS personally responsible for what they post.

If nothing follows, KK below, Night Shift take it away.

Fresh Stuff. May be worth a read, listen, or scroll on by.

APMEX https://www.apmex.com Bitcoin https://www.bitcoin.com/

Prices pulled last evening.

Gold $4,127.80. Silver $48.84. $110,891.00.

Metals sliding. Bitcoin…?

Free diamonds, For The Taking! Yep, it’s true. Listen for a primer and a short read.

QTree Razorbacks, or anyone have insights to share regarding, Crater of Diamonds State Park.

Crater of Diamonds State Park, Arkansas.

https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/crater-diamonds-state-park

37 acres.
More than 35,000 diamonds … found by visitors since the Crater of Diamonds became an Arkansas state park in 1972.
Notable diamonds found at the Crater include the 40.23-carat Uncle Sam, the largest diamond ever unearthed in the U.S.;
the 16.37-carat Amarillo Starlight;
the 15.33-carat Star of Arkansas;
and the 8.52-carat Esperanza.
THIS year, four, two carat diamonds have been found.
403 diamonds THIS year.

TMI.

Back in July, brought 10yo and 14yo Grands, girl and guy respectively to, Crater of Diamonds State Park.
Nearly four hours we sat and kneeled in dirt. Dug up some dirt, sifted… Brought some of the dirt to troughs of water, where we, sorta like panned for ~~gold~~ diamonds.
Grands came away with a mini handful, of what, they hoped were diamonds.
Arkansas Park employee, certified in identifying diamonds and semi-precious stones. Smiled, said, not this time. Hope you had fun. We did.

Oklahoma family uncovers ‘really neat’ diamond at state park, thanks to dollar store tools

Unusual discovery brings number of 2025 park finds to 403 diamonds

Oklahoma family members recently hit the jackpot when they found an impressive diamond at an Arkansas state park this month – with tools they bought at a dollar store.

The discovery, made at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, was announced by Arkansas State Parks on Sept. 23.

A family from Cookson, Oklahoma, some 65 miles southeast of Tulsa, made the discovery on Sept. 13.

Officials said that visitor Raynae Madison and her family visited the Natural State to celebrate the birthday of Madison’s nephew, William.

During the trip, they decided to stop by Crater of Diamonds State Park to try their luck at digging gems, according to a press release.

“To prepare for their visit, they purchased a beach digging kit and sand sifting tools from a dollar store,” the press release noted.

“The family picked a spot to dig on the north side of the park’s 37.5-acre diamond search area, near Prospector Trailhead.”

The family dug a few buckets’ worth of dirt before they began sifting through their screens – which is when Madison noticed “an unusual oblong, shiny stone.”

The aunt told officials that she thought the find was “really neat,” at first, but had no idea what it was.

“[Brown diamonds] reflect red and green light, combining to make the diamond appear brown.”

“I honestly thought it was too big to be a diamond!” she said.

The gem was then identified to be a brown diamond weighing 2.79 carats – an impressively hefty find for the state park.

Madison opted to name it the William Diamond, for her nephew.

“Brown diamonds from the Crater occur due to a process called plastic deformation, which creates structural defects during a diamond’s formation or movement in magma,” park interpreter Emma O’Neal said of the find.

“These defects reflect red and green light, combining to make the diamond appear brown.”

Arkansas State Parks does not disclose the value of gems found at their park, and their website notes that the “exact value” of many diamonds is unknown until they are cut or appraised.

“Park staff do not grade or appraise diamonds,” the site states.

So far, 403 diamonds have been found at Crater of Diamonds State Park in 2025 – four of which have weighed over two carats.