A Herkimer diamond is not a diamond at all. It is a clear quartz crystal that is found only near the upstate New York town of Herkimer. They are called "diamonds" because they have the appearance of a hand-cut diamond, even though they are naturally occurring crystals. The Herkimer Diamond Mine first opened to the public in 1955, but the crystals themselves are over 500 million years old.
Appearance
Some believe Herkimer Diamonds closely resemble "diamonds in the rough" which are glass-like stones before they are cut. Although a Herkimer diamond is almost as hard as a diamond, it is still classified as a crystal. A typical Herkimer diamond has 18 faces, giving it the appearance of a cut diamond.
Geology
Herkimer diamonds are found in dolomite rock, a layer of limestone that was created millions of years ago when New York State was the floor of a shallow ocean. Many layers of sedimentary rock covered the region. During the Ice Age, glaciers pushed through the region. As the vast sheets of ice began to melt, water washed away some of the rock and exposed the dolomite rock that contains Herkimer diamonds.
Inclusions
Some Herkimer Diamonds have liquid or solid pockets inside them called "inclusions." Studies have shown that some of these liquid pockets contain saltwater, proving that the region was covered by an ocean as the crystals were forming.
Discovery
It is not known when the first Herkimer diamonds were discovered. There is evidence that Native Americans in the region used them to create tools and weapons. The first published accounts of Herkimer diamonds were by college professors in the early 1800s.
Prospecting
The first prospectors came to the region by the 1870s. Around that time, when the road which would become Route 28 was blasted, workers found thousands of Herkimer diamonds. Because mineralogists determined they were not real diamonds, most locals paid little attention to them.
Herkimer Diamond Mines
A farmer opened the land that would become the Herkimer Diamond Mines in 1955. He allowed prospectors to take any crystals they found. Over the years, different farmers owned the land. Prospectors would leave a dollar in the mailbox as a "digging fee." As interest in Herkimer diamonds grew, a group of investors purchased the property and began developing it into a tourist attraction.
Development
Today the Herkimer diamond is prized among gem and mineral collectors. People come from all over the world to prospect at the Herkimer Diamond Mines. To prevent depletion of the crystals, there are some restrictions in place today. Visitors are prohibited from using power tools and heavy sledgehammers to extract Herkimer diamonds. The present site features a KOA campground, museum, jewelry store and several restaurants.
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