Diamonds are one of the most coveted items in this world. They are expensive, they are beautiful, and they have an almost mythical reputation that attracts people from all over to try their hand at mining for them.
So how is it that you can find them in your backyard?
Contrary to popular belief, diamonds aren’t only found deep underground or in specific locations. Water from glaciers and rivers has carried diamonds to countless destinations in the world. Plus, they’re often right on the surface, instead of deep beneath it.
This blog post will walk you through how to find diamonds that are right under your feet!
How to Find Diamonds In Your Backyard
Here’s a simple seven-step method to prepare for your diamond hunt, find diamonds in your backyard, collect the diamonds the right way, and store them safely.
1. Get Your Tools
The first step in finding diamonds is figuring out what tools you need. The safest way to do this, of course, is by hiring a professional geologist or mining company. They will be able to take you through the process while ensuring your safety and answering any questions that may arise along the way.
However, if you’re feeling a little more adventurous and want to figure out how to find diamonds on your own, here are the three tools you must have:
- Protective Gear: This includes hardhats, boots, gloves, work clothes/coveralls, and safety glasses or goggles. You may also want dust masks in case you run into any poisonous gasses.
- Shovels: You’ll need two shovels about the same size. The first should have a pointed blade to test how deep your diamonds are in relation to the surface and how hard compacted dirt is in order to determine if you want to continue digging with this tool or switch out for another one with a bigger, flatter blade. The second should be a flat-edged shovel to go ahead and start digging once you’ve taken the first step of testing how deep your diamonds are.
- Hammer: This will come in handy if you need to break up compacted dirt, rocks, or concrete in order to get through them easier. You should pick a hammer that is heavy enough to do the job but light enough to maneuver easily.
2. Clear Your Backyard
Make sure that your backyard is free of debris and other materials that may be covering the ground. If there are rocks, weeds, or leaves, remove them to make sure you have a clear view of the dirt floor.
3. Find Out the Ideal Depth to Mine
Check out geologic maps for your local areas where diamonds have been found in the past. Find out how deep those samples were from the surface and use that depth as your mining target.
4. Start Searching
Walk around your yard looking for any sparkles or signs of metallic objects buried in the soil.
Once you’ve evaluated the top of your yard, start digging in the soil. If you already own a metal detector, this will be the time to use it. It will save you a lot of time and effort.
However, if you don’t already own a metal detector, we don’t recommend buying one as it costs a lot of money.
5. Keep Searching
Get your hands dirty and keep digging! Just because you didn’t find anything in your first session doesn’t mean you won’t something worth the trouble in the second, third, or fourth one.
So don’t give up after just one session.
6. Collect Your Diamonds and Clean Them
When collecting any gemstone or crystal you find, make sure that you’re wearing the safety equipment we mentioned earlier.
Once you’ve collected your diamonds, it’s time to clean them. First, wash them with water thoroughly. If there’s any dirt still remaining, get rid of it using a dusting cloth.
7. Store Them Safely
The last thing you want to do is damage your diamonds or lose them. So, pick a durable box with padding inside that won’t easily break open and store the stones there until it’s time to sell them or for them to be passed on as a family heirloom!
How Can You Test If a Diamond Is Real at Home?
How can you be sure that the gemstone you hold in your hand is in fact a real diamond? Here’s how.
- Check the reflection: Diamonds have a refractive index. What does that mean? It means that diamonds have the ability to break light into spectral flashes of rainbow colors. So if you shine a bright light through your diamond and see its color, congratulations! You most likely found a real diamond in your backyard.
- Check the hardness: Did you know that real diamonds are so hard that they can scratch glass? So try to scratch glass with the gem you’ve found.
- Check the weight: Did you know diamonds are among the materials with the largest weight-to-size ratio? So if what you’ve found is heavier than usual rocks, then what you just uncovered may be an actual diamond.
- Check the shape: If what you’ve discovered has one or more flat faces and is roughly the size of your pinkie fingernail or larger, then it has the shape of a diamond.
- Check with fog: Use your breath, steam, or anything else to fog up the material you’ve found. If the fog quickly disappears from its surface, that’s a sign of a real diamond. However, if the surface stays misted for a while, then it’s probably not a diamond.
How to Clean Diamonds Properly
Here’s a three-step method to clean diamonds the right way:
- Clean them with warm soapy water. If you run out of soap, mix two tablespoons of baking soda in one quart of water to use as a cleaning agent.
- Use a soft brush or cloth to carefully scrub the dirt off. Keep in mind that some dirt is magnetic and will be attracted to the brush. So if the dirt is coming off on your cloth, it’s most likely not magnetic soil.
- The last step is to wash it with cold water and dry it the best you can with a towel or paper towel.
Once you’re done, just make sure the diamonds are completely dry before placing them inside a jewelry box.
Where to Look for Diamonds In Your Backyard
If there’s a diamond in your backyard, then the following areas are where it’s most likely to be hidden.
- Rock Piles: Is there a rock pile or another stone structure in your backyard? Then there’s a chance that diamonds will be found on or around them.
- In-Between Gravel: This is the first place to look as diamonds are most commonly found in the gravel layer.
- In the Soil: Keep your eyes peeled while digging through the soil in your backyard. To maximize accuracy, you can use a metal detector that will locate diamonds or any other gemstones hidden underneath the soil.
Final Thoughts
Searching your backyard for diamonds can be a fun activity, especially if you’re doing it with your kids. The little ones love to play around out in the open, enjoying the fresh air.
That makes diamond hunting in your backyard a double-win as you also get to enjoy bonding with your children in nature — and even if you don’t find any diamonds, you will probably come across some other gems that are interesting and valuable in their own right.
