Oklahoma is like a giant, open-air museum where you can walk through millions of years of Earth’s history just by looking at the rocks and minerals under your feet. The red soil that blankets much of our state isn’t just colorful; it’s a hint at the rich iron deposits hidden below.

But in this article, we’ll focus on something that makes rock collectors’ hearts beat faster: diamonds. Yes, you read it right— you can find diamonds in Oklahoma!

This doesn’t mean though that it’s just everywhere here. It’s more like looking for a needle in a haystack. They’re rare (as they are anywhere), and you can’t just walk out and pick them up like picking daisies.

If you’re dreaming of discovering your own Oklahoma diamond, we’ll point you to the verified site where you can find it here. Get your gear ready and let’s begin!

What Is Oklahoma Diamond Anyway?

Diamonds are made entirely out of carbon, one of the basic building blocks of life. What’s amazing about them is that they form way more than 100 miles below the surface through a mix of high pressure and hot temperatures over millions of years.

You might think of diamonds as just sparkly stones in jewelry, but they’re actually used for a bunch of other important stuff as well. These different uses have influenced the price and value of diamonds throughout history.

Because they’re the hardest natural material, they’re perfect for cutting, grinding, or drilling through almost anything. Doctors even use tiny diamond knives in some surgeries. In technology, they can be found in the speakers of high-quality sound systems and even in computer chips.

Diamonds are often found in places with old volcanic pipes called kimberlite pipes. Russia, Botswana, Canada, and South Africa are famous for their diamond mines. If you want to find them, it would help to know how to identify diamonds in the wild.

The Best Place To Find Diamond in Oklahoma

There are tons of great gem mine sites in Oklahoma where you can find a variety of interesting rocks and minerals, but if you’re after diamonds, there’s only a certain verified site here where it was spotted.

Colony

Colony is a little gem of a place with a whole lot of character, especially if you’re into rocks and geology. It’s nestled in Washita County, which is in the western part of our state. This area is flat to gently rolling, and you can see the sky stretch on forever.

The geography around here is pretty diverse. You’ve got the Washita River nearby, which has carved out some interesting features in the landscape over time. Then there’s the Red Bed Plains to the north, with soil that’s rich in minerals.

Its terrain is part of the Great Plains, so you can expect a lot of grasslands and areas that are perfect for agriculture. Geologically speaking, it sits on top of what’s known as the Anadarko Basin. This has different rocks and minerals, some of which are hundreds of millions of years old.

If you’re coming from Oklahoma City and want to go here, take I-40 West to Hinton, then head south on Highway 281. After about an hour, you’ll find yourself in Colony. But before exploring, make sure you’ve reviewed Oklahoma’s collecting guidelines.

Where we found diamond in Colony

In 1975, a rock found by someone in Colony was declared by scientists as a meteorite. This meteorite is known as the Colony Meteorite, which has “microdiamonds” in it. These little diamonds were formed in space, and scientists think they’re probably older than the sun.

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 

Southwest Treasure Hunter's Gem & Mineral Guide 

Earth Treasures: The Southwestern 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.

Common Diamond-Hunting Questions

Before you head out here, we’ll answer the most common question when it comes to finding diamonds in Oklahoma.

It’s not specifically illegal to collect diamonds in Oklahoma, but whether you can legally take diamonds or other minerals depends on where you find them and who owns the land.

If the land is privately owned, you’d need permission from the landowner. On public land, like that managed by the Bureau of Land Management, collecting small amounts for personal use is often allowed if you follow the rules.

Conservation easements and agreements might restrict collecting to protect the natural environment, so it’s crucial to check with the Oklahoma Geological Survey if any apply to the area where you want to collect.

The Best Places To Buy Diamond In Oklahoma

Because of diamond’s rarity, it can be hard to ensure that you’ll take home one after spending your whole day looking for it in the field. If you want better chances of finding them, you can pay a visit to our local shops that sell them.

Take note that, in these shops, you might find a variety of diamonds that are raw, cut, polished and even set on jewelry:

• Andaluz Artisan – 1922 N Eastern Ave, Moore, OK 73160
• Craig’s Emporium – 1209 NW 23rd St, Oklahoma City, OK 73103
• Diamonds Direct – 5521 N Pennsylvania Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73112
• Direct Diamond – 12325 N May Ave #124, Oklahoma City, OK 73120
• Good Earth Rocks Gallery – 824 N Broadway Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73102