Quartz

specimen number:
2242097

location:
Herkimer Co., New York, USA

description:

A glassy colorless to slightly smoky gem quality double terminated crystal of quartz. A great example of what is known as a Herkimer diamond. Just slight micro-chipping present, overall in very good condition.

Herkimer Diamonds, found primarily in Herkimer County, New York, are not actual diamonds but are exceptionally clear, double-terminated quartz crystals. Geologically, these crystals formed within cavities or "vugs" of the Little Falls Dolostone, a Cambrian-aged sedimentary rock, where silica-rich fluids crystallized very slowly over hundreds of millions of years. The presence of organic material, often appearing as black anthraxolite inclusions, contributed to the unique formation environment that allowed these crystals to grow with eighteen distinct facets and two points without being attached to a host rock. Historically, mining and quarrying for these specimens began in the late 18th century after they were discovered during early land clearing and stone quarrying for building materials. While the Mohawk people and early settlers recognized their beauty, commercial and recreational mining expanded significantly in the 20th century with the establishment of famous sites like the Ace of Diamonds and Herkimer Diamond Mines. These locations have operated as both commercial enterprises and popular "dig-for-fee" tourist destinations from the mid-1900s through 2026. Today, Herkimer Diamonds remain a major mineralogical icon of the northeastern United States, prized by collectors for their natural geometric perfection and diamond-like clarity.

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