Have you ever wondered if are there diamonds in West Virginia? Guess what, there are! And the most famous one is the Jones Diamond.

Back in 1928, 10-year-old Punch Jones was spending the afternoon playing horseshoes with his father Grover Cleveland Jones. When his horseshoe ended up in the water, it just happened to land right by a 34.48-carat diamond in the creek. Now, how’s that for a story? Read on if you’re curious to know more about the largest diamond found in West Virginia.

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Did you know there are diamonds in West Virginia? Want to pan for your rare find in the same spot where Punch Jones discovered the Jones Diamond in 1928? Use the map at the beginning of this piece to find your way to Peterstown and look for the bridge in the above photos to begin your search!

If you’d like to stay in Peterson and explore some more, take a look at this charming mill house vacation rental in West Virginia.

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Are There Diamonds In West Virginia?

How much is the Jones diamond worth today?

Nowadays, the exact amount of the Jones diamond's worth is unknown.

When the Jones Diamond was discovered, the value of the largest diamond found in West Virginia was unclear. However, in 1984, the Jones Diamond was sold at an auction house for $67,500. Based on the present-day economy, this value would equate to somewhere between $75,000 and $200,000.

What are some unique and fun facts about West Virginia's history? 

In addition to finding out if there are diamonds in West Virginia, here are some more unique and fun facts about West Virginia's history:

  • Around the early 1900s, West Virginia had a booming glass factory industry.
  • Wheeling, West Virginia was the capital from 1863 until 1870. In 1870, then Charleston became the capital. It should be noted that this was after another switch back to Wheeling.
  • Along with mining for coal, West Virginia was known for salt mining.
  • Rather than being called West Virginia, the name Kanawha was considered too.
  • In 1756, the first public spa in the United States opened in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia.

 

If you're curious to know more, take a look at this post about unique and fun facts about West Virginia's history.

 

 

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