Dig for Diamonds

Equipment deposit: $5 per child ( $3 is refundable )

Note: access to the diamond mine ceases one hour before farm closing time

Each year I usually have several loads of topsoil delivered to help maintain the mounded raspberry rows. Late one 1999 September, during the final day of our raspberry season, young kids who were playing in this big dirt pile started bringing me several small, very pretty crystalline rocks. Over the years we have had several more truck loads of soil, limestone, and sand delivered. Depending on the source, each load usually has a uniquely colored mineral and allowed us to expand our diamond digging area. This has become -- by far --- the most popular all season fun activity at Lakeview Farms.

Click here for a pictures of some of our biggest diamonds and best miners.

Clear		$1.50 ounce	generally long crystalline form -- good mixture of sizes
Black		$1.30 ounce	relatively expensive (usually $3 to 5 each) because of the large size.  The record cost is $12 !!
Purple		$1.50 ounce	very pretty amethyst  color -- good mixture of sizes
Purple Cluster		$1.70 ounce	NEW FOR 2006 very pretty dark amethyst color but some very large samples could cost $20
Orange		$0.50 ounce	very pretty --almost looks like an orange slice
Red		$0.50 ounce	NEW FOR 2006 Very pretty rust red color
Blue		$0.50 ounce	NEW FOR 2006 large stones in light blue color but irregular shapes
Amber		$0.50 ounce	NEW FOR 2006 medium size in a clear amber crystal
Green		$0.50 ounce	irregular shaped in a emerald cool ice green color
Geodes		Polished $1.60 ounce Rough $0.60 ounce	On one side these look like ordinary rocks but when cut or broken it become obvious that the rock is hollow with pretty crystalline deposits on the inside. The Geologists naturally call these "Geodes". For more information on Geodes in Missouri click here.

I doubt that these very pretty rocks really are diamonds, but you are welcome to take home any interesting samples that you find for the prices indicated. Keep in mind that color and clarity are very important criteria in determining the value of a stone.

There are several places in Australia where people can actually go digging in a field and (not too often, of course) find real diamonds. If you don't plan on visiting Australia, there is also Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas or an excellent quartz mine in Arkansas (West of Hot Springs) that allows groups or individuals to dig on their own (after some mine safety instruction). Click here for more information on Wegner Crystal Mines.