Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 2, February 2024
RULES AND REGULATIONS REGARDING PUBLIC USE OF
THE SEARCH AREA OF THE CRATER OF DIAMONDS STATE PARK
The following rules and regulations were formulated with each
visitor's safety and welfare in mind and have been established to assure all
visitors equal opportunity to enjoy the search area and to enhance the
protection of the park's valuable natural resources.
I. DIAMOND SEARCHING EQUIPMENT
A.
Motor, Battery, and Ladder
Restriction - No ladders, motor-operated or battery operated
diamond searching equipment may be used on the diamond search area
B.
Wheeled Equipment
- Wheeled equipment is restricted to hand operated pull or push style
conveyance and may not exceed a maximum cargo capacity of six (6) cubic feet
(equivalent to a standard sized wheel barrow), limit one device per visitor.
Additionally, baby carriages and children's wagons (i.e., "radio flyer") are
allowed for transporting children onto the search area.
C.
Exceptions to Wheels, Motors,
and Batteries - Exceptions to this rule shall provide for the
utilization of reasonable means of transportation for persons permanently or
totally and/or 100 percent disabled (written proof of disability may be
required). Reasonable means of transportation will be determined by the park
superintendent or his/her representative on a case-by-case basis.
D.
Other Searching
Equipment - All other diamond hunting equipment must be capable of
being hand-carried through the Visitor Center and be of such size that it will
easily pass through a standard single door opening (32"x81").
E.
Shade Devices -
Tents, umbrellas, tarpaulins, etc., may be erected and must be removed on a
daily basis. If erected, these devices must be tied, staked, anchored, or
otherwise properly and safely secured to prevent them from becoming a safety
concern.
F.
Equipment
Storage - Equipment used for searching must be transported onto
and removed from the search area and park property on a daily basis. Exceptions
to this policy will be campers storing their own equipment at their campsite on
an overnight basis or searchers who rent park provided storage facilities in
the mine area. Diamond search equipment rented from the park must be returned
on a daily basis.
G.
Equipment Removal - Any equipment that is not properly
stored or removed by the visitor will be considered abandoned and removed from
the premises as litter.
II. DIAMOND SEARCHING ACTIVITIES
A.
Boundaries - All
searching activity (surface searching, digging, etc.) will be confined to the
plowed field. The boundaries of the search area will be clearly marked with
yellow boundary markers. Digging, setting up equipment to process ore, or
utilizing the area beyond the marked boundaries is strictly
prohibited.
B.
Protection of Trees and Vegetation - Digging under
trees and shrubs within fifteen (15) feet of the base of their trunks is
strictly prohibited. This regulation applies for all trees and shrubs within
the diamond search area as well as those that stand outside of the mine
boundary, but have park of their drip line within the boundary area.
C.
"Claims"
Prohibited - No area, excavated hole, or portion of the search
area may be guarded, claimed, or in any way reserved. Any portion of the field
is available to anyone who purchases a ticket to the search area. All park
sluices and sorting tables are designed for multiple users and are included in
this regulation.
III.
DIGGING AND EXCAVATION OF HOLES AND TRENCHES
A.
Angle of Repose -
To help prevent cave-ins, any excavation dug to any depth shall be sloped to
the angle of repose of the excavated material, but in no case less than 1
½ :1 (horizontal:vertical) in all directions. For example, a hole with a
vertical depth of four (4) feet should be at least twelve (12) feet wide
horizontally at the surface, sloping gradually to the bottom.
B.
Prevention of Falling Material
- All excavated material must be at least two (2) feet from the
edge of the hole or trench.
C.
Tunnel Mining Prohibited - Undercutting or tunneling
into the side walls of any excavation, trench, or hole is prohibited.
D.
Water Hazards -
Entering or otherwise occupying any excavation that contains standing or
flowing water (regardless of the source) is prohibited until both the water and
its source are eliminated.
E.
Egress from Excavation - Any excavation greater than
four (4) feet in depth must have safely constructed earthen steps cut into one
bank of the excavation at the angle of repose of the material (that is, the
steps must slope gradually from the bottom of the hole to the
surface).
F.
Daily
Refill of Excavation - All excavations (holes and trenched) dug by
visitors must be refilled with mineral soil to the level of the original
surface at the end of each day.
G.
Safety Priority - Any hole dug in any way considered
unsafe by park personnel will be filled at the discretion of authorized park
employees.
IV. REMOVAL
OF ROCKS AND MINERALS
A.
Limit on
Quantity - No more than a sum total equivalent to five (5) gallons
of processed concentrate may be taken from the search area per paying customer
per day. No exceptions.
B.
Soil Removal Prohibited - Non-processed lamproite soil
(diamond bearing ore that has not been run through screens or sorting devices)
may not be removed from the search area. However, souvenir bags of lamproite
soil may be purchased in the park gift shop in limited quantities.
V. PERSONAL CONDUCT REGULATIONS
A.
Posting of Signs
- Posting of signs is prohibited on the search area (or any portion of the
park) without permission from the park superintendent.
B.
Soliciting -
Soliciting the sale of diamonds and other gem stones on park property is
prohibited.
C.
Behavior - Riotous, boisterous, threatening, or
indecent language or conduct is prohibited.
D.
Littering -
Littering on the search area or any other portion of the park is prohibited.
NOTE: The authorization for the searching of diamonds and other
minerals at the park, along with the enforcement of rules and regulations is
set forth in PD 3040.
Repeated violation of any or all of these rules and regulations
will be reason for suspension of searching privileges, written citation,
arrest, or all of the aforementioned.
NOTICE: To preserve scenic beauty and ecology, fences and
warning signs have not been installed in some park locations. Caution and
supervision of your children is required while visiting these areas.
HOURS OF OPERATION OF ALL PARK FACILITIES ARE SUBJECT TO
SEASONAL CHANGE. CHECK PARK BULLETIN BOARDS OR AT THE INFORMATION DESK FOR
CURRENT OPERATING HOURS.
Related PDs: PD 1050 Hours of Operation
PD 2000 Fees & Charges
PD 3040 Excavations and Unauthorized Searches
