https://www.earthmagazine.org/tags/ozarks/ Recent content in Ozarks on EARTH Magazine Hugo en-US American Geosciences Institute. All rights reserved. Thu, 05 Jan 2012 06:41:58 -0500 https://www.earthmagazine.org/article/travels-geology-arkansas-geologic-diamond-rough/ Thu, 05 Jan 2012 06:41:58 -0500 https://www.earthmagazine.org/article/travels-geology-arkansas-geologic-diamond-rough/ <figure class="earth-figure"> <img src="https://www.americangeosciences.org/static/earth/travels-geology-arkansas-geologic-diamond-rough/i-27e-7d9-9-a.jpg" alt="A mineral spring at Hot Springs National Park. Mary Caperton Morton" loading="eager" decoding="async"> <figcaption>A mineral spring at Hot Springs National Park. Mary Caperton Morton</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="earth-figure"> <img src="https://www.americangeosciences.org/static/earth/travels-geology-arkansas-geologic-diamond-rough/i-27a-7d9-9-a.jpg" alt="At Crater of Diamonds State Park near Murfreesboro, visitors can mine for diamonds in the open fields - and perhaps take home a giant diamond, like the 16.37-carat Amarillo Starlight, found in 1975. Mary Caperton Morton" loading="lazy" decoding="async"> <figcaption>At Crater of Diamonds State Park near Murfreesboro, visitors can mine for diamonds in the open fields - and perhaps take home a giant diamond, like the 16.37-carat Amarillo Starlight, found in 1975. Mary Caperton Morton</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="earth-figure"> <img src="https://www.americangeosciences.org/static/earth/travels-geology-arkansas-geologic-diamond-rough/i-279-7d9-9-a.jpg" alt="If visitors don&#39;t mind the mud, they can pan for diamonds in Crater of Diamonds&#39; wet sluicing station. Mary Caperton Morton" loading="lazy" decoding="async"> <figcaption>If visitors don&#39;t mind the mud, they can pan for diamonds in Crater of Diamonds&#39; wet sluicing station. Mary Caperton Morton</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="earth-figure"> <img src="https://www.americangeosciences.org/static/earth/travels-geology-arkansas-geologic-diamond-rough/i-27c-7d9-9-a.jpg" alt="Visitors mining for diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park. Mary Caperton Morton" loading="lazy" decoding="async"> <figcaption>Visitors mining for diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park. Mary Caperton Morton</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="earth-figure"> <img src="https://www.americangeosciences.org/static/earth/travels-geology-arkansas-geologic-diamond-rough/i-27b-7d9-9-a.jpg" alt="The Ozark Diamond Mine and others have tried unsuccessfully to mine the Crater of Diamonds State Park site commercially over the years. Mary Caperton Morton" loading="lazy" decoding="async"> <figcaption>The Ozark Diamond Mine and others have tried unsuccessfully to mine the Crater of Diamonds State Park site commercially over the years. Mary Caperton Morton</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="earth-figure"> <img src="https://www.americangeosciences.org/static/earth/travels-geology-arkansas-geologic-diamond-rough/i-27d-7d9-9-a.jpg" alt="The historic Ozark Bathhouse in Hot Springs, Ark., closed its spa in 1977. It now houses the Hot Springs Museum of Contemporary Art. Mary Caperton Morton" loading="lazy" decoding="async"> <figcaption>The historic Ozark Bathhouse in Hot Springs, Ark., closed its spa in 1977. It now houses the Hot Springs Museum of Contemporary Art. Mary Caperton Morton</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="earth-figure"> <img src="https://www.americangeosciences.org/static/earth/travels-geology-arkansas-geologic-diamond-rough/i-27f-7d9-9-a.jpg" alt="Lake Ouachita hosts sports from kayaking to fishing to swimming. Doc Gibson" loading="lazy" decoding="async"> <figcaption>Lake Ouachita hosts sports from kayaking to fishing to swimming. Doc Gibson</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="earth-figure"> <img src="https://www.americangeosciences.org/static/earth/travels-geology-arkansas-geologic-diamond-rough/i-280-7d9-9-a.jpg" alt="Hiking trails run through the Ozarks. Mary Caperton Morton" loading="lazy" decoding="async"> <figcaption>Hiking trails run through the Ozarks. Mary Caperton Morton</figcaption> </figure> <p>If the budget belt is a little tighter this year, consider packing your diamond-digging trowel, bathing suit and camping gear and heading to a little-known geologic hot spot in the middle of the United States. Arkansas, &ldquo;the Natural State,&rdquo; boasts the world&rsquo;s only public diamond mine, uniquely heated mineral springs and the Ozark Mountains of Wilson Rawls&rsquo; &ldquo;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Where_the_Red_Fern_Grows">Where the Red Fern Grows</a>&rdquo; lore, all within a day&rsquo;s drive from much of the United States. The state suits not only the budget-conscious traveler, but also the earth science-minded, offering enough geology for a great geo-centric trip to the south-central United States.</p>