Teacher Finds 2.1-Carat Diamond 'the Size of a Jellybean' During Family Vacation

Why dig for gold when the diamonds are right there on the surface?

That’s what happened for Nebraska teacher Josh Lanik, who found a 2.1-carat diamond while on a family vacation.

In fact, the diamond was so big it was “about the size of a jellybean,” Waymon Cox of the Arkansas State Parks said in a statement.

The precious discovery happened at the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, where Lanik and his wife brought their kids for a fun afternoon of gem hunting.

Nearly 300 diamonds have been officially discovered in the park in 2019, according to Arkansas State Parks, but Lanik and his family were still shocked to discover the rock they carelessly tossed into a brown paper sack, along with other minerals, turned out to be a diamond.

“It was blatantly obvious there was something different about it,” Lanik said in a statement. “I saw the shine, and when I picked it up and rolled it in my hand, I noticed there weren’t any sharp edges.”

After a little back-and-forth with the staff, they eventually revealed it was the biggest diamond discovered in their park this year. The average diamond found in the park is only about one-fifth of a carat, the park said.

Even though the diamond most likely isn’t worth more than a few hundred dollars, Lanik said they’ll continue to celebrate their discovery, even naming it the “Lanik Family Diamond” to commemorate an enjoyable family vacation.

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