Michigan is known for its beautiful scenery and Great Lakes, but there is another sparkling secret hidden beneath the surface: diamonds!
Michigan doesn’t have as many diamonds as places like Africa or Russia, but it does have some that are just waiting to be found. These valuable stones were made billions of years ago deep in the Earth.
Sometimes, they find their way to the surface, giving treasure hunters an exciting chance to find hidden treasure.
This article will help you start a sparkling trip in Michigan’s many landscapes, whether you’re an explorer or a geologist-to-be. Keep reading to find out how to find your piece of Michigan’s secret treasure!
What Is Michigan Diamond Anyway?
A diamond is not just a pretty stone; it’s also a unique gemstone made of carbon. The framework of a diamond is what makes it special.
Under very high pressure and heat deep in the Earth, carbon atoms join uniquely, making a crystal lattice that gives diamonds their amazing hardness and brilliance.
It could take more than a billion years for this to happen! Once they are formed, volcanic eruptions bring them closer to the top of the Earth. They are covered in rocks called kimberlite or lamproite. To make your search easy, we wrote an article on how to identify a diamond.
When you hear the word “diamond,” you might think of jewelry. But you can find them worldwide, not just in jewelry shops. Often, these are found in places where volcanoes have been active in the past. This is where diamonds were pushed up from deep inside the earth.
Though it’s not expected to find a diamond in nature, when people do, it’s usually in these types of places where the Earth has been active for a long time. How much a diamond is worth can also depend on where the piece came from.
- The deep experience and understanding of our team about the area
- Recommendations from local groups and clubs
- How easy it is to get the a particular location
- Safety and potential hazards when collecting
- Weighing private and public locations
- The ability for both experienced and novice geode enthusiasts to find great samples
With these factors in mind we’ve been able to put together a fantastic list that just about anyone can use!
The Best Places To Find Diamond in Michigan
The best places in the state to find diamonds are worth talking about. There are numerous excellent locations to mine gems in Michigan, but only a few are good for discovering diamonds. Many people don’t know about some of these spots, but they are often easy to find.
Always Confirm Access and Collection Rules!
Before heading out to any of the locations on our list you need to confirm access requirements and collection rules for both public and private locations directly with the location. We haven’t personally verified every location and the access requirements and collection rules often change without notice.
Many of the locations we mention will not allow collecting but are still great places for those who love to find beautiful rocks and minerals in the wild without keeping them. We also can’t guarantee you will find anything in these locations since they are constantly changing.
Always get updated information directly from the source ahead of time to ensure responsible rockhounding. If you want even more current options it’s always a good idea to contact local rock and mineral clubs and groups
Cook Lake
Cook Lake is tucked away in a beautiful area. It’s a great place for fishing, picnics, and maybe even diamond digging. The geological past is what makes Cook Lake interesting for people who are looking for diamonds.
Volcanic activity has had a significant impact on this area for a very long time. Do not forget that diamonds are often found in places where volcanoes used to erupt. For this reason, volcanic events can bring diamonds from deep inside the Earth to places where people can find them.
Where we found diamond at Cook Lake
Diamonds are typically found in areas with a history of volcanic activity and in certain types of rock formations, such as kimberlite or lamproite pipes
The tools every geode hunter will need
When you're out looking for geodes having the right tools for the job is very important. You don't need a lot for most trips but there are a handful that are critical and will make your life a lot easier.
We get asked a lot about the equipment we use. Over the years we've found a handful of tools that we recommend to both new and experienced geode hunters which we outline in great detail in our complete rockhounding tools and kit guide. These are quality options that also happen to be relatively inexpensive.
Below are the basic tools that make your life so much easier and save you a ton of time. Check out the full guide to see everything we recommend bringing. One quick note, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases but we try very hard to only recommend gear we would use ourselves and often recommend brands you can't find on Amazon.
At a minimum you should have:
1 - Sturdy rock hammer: The Estwing Rock Pick is our standard
2 - Rugged chisels: Try Kendo' 3-piece Chisel Set
3 - Compact shovel: The Koleiya 28-inch shovel works well
4 - Rock screen pan: The Wazakura Soil Sieve Set fits the bill
5 - Eye protection: DeWalt Safety Glasses are cheap and comfortable
6 - Head protection: Malta's Safety Helmet has been our go-to
7 - Jewelers lens with at least 20x magnification: Jarlink's Jewelers Loop is perfect
The geode-finding books that we use most
There are also a few books that have been extremely helpful in the search for gems. These books have great recommendations and tips:
National Audubon Society Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals: North America
Northeast Treasure Hunter's Gem & Mineral Guide
Earth Treasures: The Northeastern Quadrant
We provide links to find these tools on Amazon but some can also be found at your local hardware stores. For more recommendations check out the link to our full tool guide above.
Grand Rapids
You might not think of Grand Rapids as the first place to look for diamonds because of its busy center and lively arts scene. But even though it’s not a great place to mine diamonds, it does have a different kind of wealth for people who are interested in them.
Diamonds can be learned about, bought, and even used to make jewelry in a number of educational and business places in the city. It doesn’t have any diamond mines, but the city has a lot of useful information for people who are interested in diamonds.
Jewelers and diamond experts with a good reputation can talk about diamond quality, background, and the art of making jewelry. Having this information is like going on a different kind of diamond hunt, where you learn to value and respect these gems.
Where we found diamond in Grand Rapids
The area around Grand Rapids, Michigan, isn’t known for diamond mining, so there won’t be any natural diamond mines there. Diamonds, on the other hand, can be found all over the city in jewelry shops and diamond dealers.
These companies sell different kinds of diamonds, from fancy jewelry with diamonds put in it to loose diamonds. There may also be gem and jewelry shows in Grand Rapids where sellers show off and sell diamonds and other gemstones.
Other Great Places To Find Michigan Diamonds
Following our favorite spots, here are the other places on our list. We’ve added a few more locations where we’ve succeeded and now break down each place by county.
Our recommendations by county
| County | Location |
| Cass | Dowagiac area, in stream gravel |
Common Diamond-Hunting Questions
People often ask the following questions to find out where to find diamonds in Michigan:
Is it illegal to collect diamonds in Michigan?
In Michigan, as in most places, whether it’s legal to collect diamonds depends on where you’re trying to collect them.
There aren’t well-known diamond deposits in the state, and diamond collecting isn’t a common activity. However, the same principles apply: always get permission, follow the law, and respect the land you’re on.
The Best Places To Buy Diamond in Michigan
You will always feel good when you hold a piece of diamond. Not everyone likes to work hard and get dirty, though. If you don’t want to do that to find diamonds, then this list is for you.
Here are some of our favorite places in the area to find and buy diamonds:
- Dimitridon Studios Rock Shop – 418 Phoenix St, South Haven, MI 49090, United States
- Geoscape Rock Shop – 37111 W Red Arrow Hwy, Paw Paw, MI 49079, United States
- Kelley’s Rock Shop – 804 Main St, Norway, MI 49870, United States
- Main Street Rocks and Crystal Shop – 300 W Main St, Durand, MI 48429, United States
- World of Rock Shops – 32 N Huron St, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, United States
