Quartz

specimen number:
2262214

location:
Herkimer Co., New York, USA

description:
A loose choice double terminated glassy and gem crystal of quartz, this is the variety known as Herkimer diamond. In great condition.

The Herkimer district, located within Herkimer County in the Mohawk Valley of New York, is a world-famous locality for the highly lustrous, water-clear quartz crystals popularly known as "Herkimer Diamonds." Geologically, these doubly terminated crystals formed roughly 500 million years ago during the Cambrian Period within solution cavities, or vugs, in the magnesium-rich Little Falls Dolostone. The pockets were created by the dissolution of ancient marine algal mats called stromatolites, which were subsequently filled by low-temperature, silica-rich hydrothermal fluids that allowed the quartz to grow slowly without attaching to the host rock, developing its iconic eighteen-faceted geometric perfection. Historically, the presence of these shiny stones was noted by early European settlers in the late 18th century, but systematic quarrying and mining for mineral specimens did not begin in earnest until the mid-19th century. Commercial extraction and recreational surface-mining operations expanded significantly during the 20th century, with multiple open-pit quarry operations and pay-to-dig tourist mines establishing steady, decades-long runs that continue to be highly active through 2026. The locality remains a primary global benchmark for this distinct crystal habit, drawing geologists and mineral collectors from around the world to extract specimens using heavy sledgehammers and chisels.

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