Herkimer Diamonds -Beautiful and Powerful!

Herkimer Diamonds are brilliant, water-clear, quartz crystals found over a wide area around Herkimer County, New York. All of the deposits are found in units of the Little Falls Dolostone formation of Cambrian Age. The original sediment was deposited some 500 million years ago and crystals were formed over an extended period after the original sediments were compacted into the rock layers we see on the surface today. Water circulating through these rocks while they were deeply buried carried dissolved silica into cavities where the crystals were formed.

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.

Crystals can be found weathering from rocks in many areas but successful digging usually means a trip to one of the several commercial operations available. These include The Ace Of Diamonds Mine and The Herkimer Diamond Mines Resort near Middleville and others, like Treasure Mountain and Diamond Acres in outlying locations.

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.

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".

~ 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.