This was a day trip of the Geology Club to the Herkimer Diamond Mine and KOA campground located north of Herkimer, NY. Herkimer diamonds are the local name for doubly terminated quartz crystals that grow in vugs in the sandy dolomite of the Little Falls Dolostone, a part of the Upper Cambrian Beekmantown Group. It contains abundant stromatolites, but few other visible fossils. The quartz crystals were deposited by hydrothermal waters squeezed out of deeper, eastern rocks during one of the Appalachian mountain building episodes (probably Taconian, but there is some controversy about this). Vugs can also contain well-formed crystals of dolomite and calcite. The quartz is associated with abundant anthraxolite (pyrobitumen) which colors parts of the rock black and can form good size lumps. These represent the remains of hydrocarbons, probably once crude oil, moving along with the flowing water. Minute traces of native platinum have been found in the anthraxolite (Parnell, 1988, American Mineralogist, v. 73, p. 1170-1171).
Map, highlighting Exit 30 on I-90 and the mine, campground, and museum location. See their web site for fees, hours, detailed directions, and camping. Basically, from the Herkimer Exit 30 on I-90, head north on Rt. 28 until you get there.
How to find the diamonds? Step 1: Find a rock that speaks to you: "'I have diamonds in me".
Step 2: Hit it. Most of the rocks are silent, or lying to you. Sometimes you get lucky.
Tools of the trade: hammers of various sizes, goggles, patience, and a big smile.
This rock lied to me!
Playing frisbee after lunch, with the frisbee plates that came with the sandwich shop lunch.
Back to the rock pile.
After breaking a rock, look at the pieces for signs of diamonds.
Smashing away all day at gray rocks can be tiring. Look at the scenary once in awhile. Outside of the gray quarry it is quite pretty.
All smiles when diamonds are found! Keep smashing, there might be more in there.
This is what you look like after a day of smashing rocks. All smiles! This is inside the enormous gift shop, which has lots of rocks, minerals, Herkimer diamonds, and jewlery made from Herkimer diamonds. There is also a nice museum upstairs, don't forget to take a look.