Dennis Tyrrell, of Murfreesboro, searches for diamonds about three or four days a week at the state park and has found several others before, Assistant Superintendent Bill Henderson said. The white diamond Tyrrell found Friday was his largest find so far.
"It is a very nice diamond because of its size," Henderson said. "And it has what they call a silver cape on it. It's about the size of a Chiclet gum. It's rectangular in shape."
Henderson said park officials weren't qualified to evaluate the gem's worth, but said Tyrrell's find would have substantial value on the market.
"We're talking several thousand dollars," he said, adding that he guessed Tyrrell would probably sell the precious stone.
The park is the only diamond mine in North America where the public can search for diamonds and other gems and keep them. While the site has been a park, the largest diamond found was 16 carats. Before that, a 40-carat diamond was unearthed.
