Herkimer Diamond Crystals
Herkimer Diamond is the name given to beautiful, clear, doubly-terminated quartz crystals found in Herkimer County, New York. They have the hexagonal habit of the typical quartz crystal but instead of being terminated on one end only, they have terminations on both ends. They are rare finds and are popular with collectors.
My collection of gem quartz Herkimer Diamonds is particularly fine. You can see some of this collection on my website.
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Rare, Large Herkimer Diamond Cluster
500 Million Years of History
Gems in the Making
Crystals can form very quickly in some geologic environments but the perfection of these quartz crystals suggests that they were formed over an extended period while conditions remained stable. The cavities containing crystals range from a few millimeters to over a meter in size and can contain anywhere from a few (or none!) to several hundred crystals of various sizes. The most perfect crystals are usually less than 2 centimeters in size with larger crystals, rarely up to 10 or 12 centimeters, becoming cloudy with more inclusions. Inclusions include anthraxolite, negative crystals and enhydros (cavities with enclosed water and sometimes moving air bubbles.) Crystals often form spectacular clusters which usually must be assembled and re-attached, much like completing a puzzle. The cavities appear to have been dissolved from the host rock by circulating ground waters. At some locations, near Middleville, for example, the cavities are found on a regular horizon and may have been related to the presence of organic matter such as algae mounds. The hydrocarbon found in some of the cavities and as inclusions in some of the crystals (anthraxolite) supports this thinking.
Herkimer Diamonds have 18 faces, are doubly-terminated (have points at both ends) and have a 7.5 hardness on the mohs scale (hard enough to scratch glass.)
To the untrained eye, these crystals were thought to be diamonds because of their clarity and sparkle. These gemmy quartz crystals are found over a large area around the towns of Herkimer and Little Falls in Herkimer County, New York. Similar crystals have been collected at other locations world-wide, for example, Oxaca, Mexico, and Afaganistan, but the overall quality of the stones from New York is unparalleled.

Mining on Dolostone Layer, Ace of Diamonds Mine

Pocket Zone-Ace of Diamonds-2-Foot Scale
Collecting at the fee-digging areas is generally a fairly straight forward process. It does require hard work and usually several days and heavy hand tools are needed to remove overburden and open lager cavities in the productive layers. Collecting on the rubble piles is a bit easier and can be productive but still requires a good sledge and smaller tools.

Small Herkimer Diamond Cluster

Double Herkimer with enhydros (trapped water)
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The Mohawk Indians who lived in this area were known as 'The People of the Flint' but today it is believed that the original translation was in error and the correct translation of their language describes them as 'The People of the Crystals'.
The Mohawk River and it's tributaries drain the central portion of New York and have eroded the bedrock for eons. This weathering released Herkimer Diamonds into the stream beds for collection by the native people.
Both the Iroquois and Mohawk Indians who first roamed Herkimer County, found diamonds laying loose in the soil. There is evidence of the crystals being used for tools and weapons. At some Indian burial grounds, arrowheads carved from Herkimer Diamonds have been excavated.
There is no evidence so far that the Indians used these crystals for adornment. However it is thought that the indians believed the quartz crystals to be "spirit stones".

Herk Triple with trapped enhyros and air pockets
Metaphysical Properties of Herkimer Diamonds
~ Herkimers are believed to be the most powerful of all the quartz crystals.
~ They are also called the attunement stone.
~ They assist in telepathic communication.
~ Help to attune one to their higher self.
~ Herkimers are believed to be the most powerful of all the quartz crystals.
~ They are also called the attunement stone, allowing the one using it to attune themselves to other people, environments or groups.
~ They are believed to carry the energy of healing and of love to facilitate healing of others. and of the planet.
~ They stimlate clairvoyant ability.
~ They assist in telepathic communication.
~ Helps one to open to their inner visions.
~ Herkimers are believed to be the most powerful of all the quartz crystals.
~ They are also called the attunement stone, allowing the one using it to attune themselves to other people, environments or groups.
~ They are believed to carry the energy of healing and of love to facilitate healing of others. and of the planet.
~ They stimlate clairvoyant ability.
~ They assist in telepathic communication.
~ Help to attune one to their higher self.
~ Herkimers are believed to be the most powerful of all the quartz crystals.
~ They are also called the attunement stone, allowing the one using it to attune themselves to other people, environments or groups.
~ They are believed to carry the energy of healing and of love to facilitate healing of others. and of the planet.
~ They stimlate clairvoyant ability.
~ They assist in telepathic communication.
~ They help to clear and open the chakras.
~ Relieves tension and promotes peace of mind.
~ Helps to bring you compassion for others.
~ Also known as a dream stone, it is excellent for vivid dreaming and remembering dreams
(put one under your pillow).
~ Helps to recall past lives.
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Reply
- Alex Alex Mar 8, 2009 @ 10:41 am
- hi
I do have quartz with water trapped inside . if any one is interested buying it. pls email to sales@cslnet.net i will send you the pictures.
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Reply
- BusyQueen BusyQueen Feb 12, 2009 @ 1:51 pm
- Thanks for sharing your knowledge. It's well done. 5 *****'s
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Reply
- Rinchen Chodron Rinchen Chodron Jan 19, 2009 @ 1:10 pm
- What beautiful photos! Nice job.
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Reply
- Nara Nara Dec 18, 2008 @ 1:29 pm
- Steve,
Excellent lens and I have a large Herkimer and it is fantastic. As a crystal worker I always tell people about the Herkimer to help with dream time. I'll pass on to other this fantastic lens.
5 stars from me.
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Reply
- happy-jack happy-jack Nov 7, 2008 @ 1:36 pm
- Steve, yes the Herkimer stone is fantastic had so much help had to put it near my bed so the dreams would not wake me up it starts working within three feet. So when you send these things out they need a warning to set aside a night or two if the dreams are overwhelming. Thank you so very much for your help and kindness.
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Herkimer Diamond Information on Wikipedia
Herkimer diamond is a generic name for double-terminated quartz crystals, which were first discovered in exposed outcrops of dolostone at Little Falls in Herkimer County, New York and the Mohawk River Valley. They are sometimes referred to as Little Falls Diamond and Middleville Diamond.http://www.mindat.org/min-1877.html Mindat with locations They became largely recognized after workmen discovered them in large quantities while cutting into the Mohawk River Valley dolostone in the late 1700s. Geologists discovered exposed dolostone in Herkimer County and began mining there. The popularity of mining for double-terminated quartz in the Herkimer County outcroppings is what led to the name, Herkimer diamonds. Currently, Herkimer diamonds can be found in large quantity in at least Herkimer, Fulton, and Montgomery counties, and double-pointed quartz crystals have also been found in abundance, in Tibet and Afghanistan as well as in other countries.
Many of the New York crystals are known for their extreme clarity, and Wiccan and New Age belief systems often ascribe specific occult properties such as enhanced dream recall, connections between astral planes, "manifestation energy" (i.e. energy which helps make dreams, hopes and plans "manifest" or come to fruition) and a wide variety of mystical powers to them.
These quartz crystals, which geologists theorize formed extremely slowly in small solution cavities or "vugs", have 18 facets (6 sides) and two terminations. Research is ongoing to help understand how Herkimer diamonds, in their wide variety of habits, were formed. They can be found clear, cloudy, or even containing a variety of rare impurities. Impurities (rare and general) can include clusters, scepters, enhydro (properly called fluid inclusions), phantom, and bridge crystals. A fluid inclusion contains a water pocket within the crystal, and a phantom is a crystal which contains an image of itself within.
Please see the current research on Herkimer diamonds published on HerkimerHistory.com.

















