Herkimer Diamond Decoded: Formation, Properties, Benefits & Value Judgments
Herkimer Diamond is renowned for its high vibrational energy and its beneficial properties in healing. With its brilliant clarity and unique double-termination featuring 18 facets, it stands out as a remarkable gemstone. It is a actually a type of quartz that combines the qualities of amethyst and clear quartz.
This powerful stone has the ability to amplify resonance, facilitate spiritual connections, and bring about clarity in understanding. It is also known for dispelling negativity, purifying both the mind and body, guiding individuals towards the right path, and heightening spiritual awareness.
Interestingly, when discussing Herkimer Diamonds, you may have been led to believe that they exclusively come from Herkimer County in New York. However, is that statement accurate?
In this article, you will gain comprehensive knowledge about Herkimer Diamond, including its formation, properties, benefits, and how to assess its value. We will delve into the origins, explore their historical usage by ancient civilizations, identify the most coveted Herkimer quartz specimens, and much more. By the end of this article, you will be equipped with the necessary information to effectively select a Herkimer Diamond.
Herkimer Diamonds Beads contain petroleum – under the UV light
What are Herkimer Diamonds?
Herkimer Diamonds are not real diamonds, but a type of quartz.
Geological Properties
Chemical Formula: SiO2
Crystal system: Triclinic Crystal system
Mineral Classification: Silicate
Mohs hardness: 7.5 (Mohs of Diamond: 10)
Specific Gravity: 2.65
Refractive Index: 1.544-1.553
Properties: Double-terminated and hexagonal nugget, quartz crystal with 18 facets transparent
Color: Colorless, milky-white, grey, brown, black, purple (often in colorless and milky)
Transparency: Transparent to translucent
Why it’s named Herkimer Diamond?
Herkimer Diamonds are found in the 18th century by the Mohawk River in Herkimer County upstate New York and are estimated to be over 500 million years old. This stone is named by the origin place – Herkimer County.
By its shape, we can see it is a double-terminated and hexagonal nugget which has natural 18 facets, 6 on each point and 6 more in the center. More, its transparent, crystal clear, and brilliance characters fit the appearance of a classic diamond look. So named this stone “diamond” due to its clarity, brilliance, and natural faceting.
That’s how it got its name.
Formation
Herkimer diamonds, formed about 500 million years ago in a shallow sea.
Sediments from the ancient Adirondack Mountains accumulated and turned into dolomite bedrock. Acidic waters created cavities where quartz crystals formed.
The quartz crystals are believed to have formed during the Carboniferous Period. As the rock was buried and temperatures rose, quartz crystals grew slowly, resulting in exceptional clarity.
The crystals contain inclusions such as solids, and liquids like saltwater or petroleum – often carbon dioxide and black hydrocarbon solids are the most common inclusions.
Mines
Many people mistakenly believe that Herkimer Diamond quartz crystals only come from New York.
However, as a gemstone beads manufacturer and wholesaler, I can assure you that there are actually two main sources: New York and Pakistan. Additionally, Herkimer stones can be found in various other countries, such as China and Brazil. China Herkimer stone often in larger size but lower in quality compared to those from New York and Pakistan, typically exhibiting a brown color.
You might be interested in knowing the differences between Herkimer Diamonds from Pakistan and New York.
As a supplier and manufacturer of Herkimer Diamond beads and nuggets, I can tell you, most of people can not tell the differences.
Even sellers and wholesalers often remain unaware of the exact origins of the materials they handle. Only mine material seller and factory know the original places. Both New York and Pakistan Herkimer Stones share common features like inclusions and petroleum content. The primary distinction lies in the fact that Herkimer Diamonds from Pakistan tend to have a darker black coloration, and there is a larger supply of materials from Pakistan compared to New York.
While the original place of the crystal may not be of utmost importance, what truly matters is finding a high-quality and even precious crystal. Do you happen to know how to select a high-quality Herkimer quartz crystal?
What to Determine if a Herkimer Diamond Quartz Crystal is Valuable?
Similar to the judgment of a real diamond – Cut, Clarity, Weight, and Color
Cut: “Cut” here is not meaning processing by the factory. Instead, we are referring to the natural facets of Herkimer Diamonds as they are dug out from the ground, which includes their inherent shape of a natural double termination and 18 facets.
Color: Generally, the higher the clarity and cleanliness of a Herkimer crystal, the greater its value. Herkimer Diamonds are usually clear, milky, and sometimes in smoky color.
Clarity: Generally, the higher the clarity of a stone, the greater its value. The most valuable stone is completely transparent, resembling glass. However, there are instances when the presence of attractive inclusions such as air or petroleum bubbles can enhance its value, making it even more prized.
Weight: Size directly impacts the value of a gemstone, with larger stones commanding higher prices. Though most of the stones are in small sizes.
If you could find a large and radiant Herkimer Diamond with bubble, moving crystal, and petroleum inclusions, it must be the most valuable quartz.
Here, you may be interested in how the inclusions of the bubbles are formed.
How The Bubble Inclusions Are Formed?
Herkimer Diamonds often contain fluid inclusions known as “water bubbles”. These water bubbles are often moving, giving them the appearance of being dynamic. However, it’s important to note that the fluid inside the stone is not water but carbon dioxide. If break the stone, the water bubble will disappear.
The presence of water bubbles in Herkimer Diamonds is attributed to the trapping of carbon dioxide during the formation of the stones. When the stone was formed, carbon dioxide got trapped inside and was gradually compressed by the surrounding materials, resulting in high internal pressure. When magnified approximately six thousand times, you can observe the continuous vibrations caused by the higher internal pressure which causes the carbon dioxide to exist in a liquid state.
If there is air trapped within the inclusion, it will manifest as a water bubble, giving the impression of tiny spheres in motion.
Sometimes Herkimer Diamonds can have black inclusions that appear to move within the stone, we call them “moving crystals.”
How to Identify if a Herkimer Diamond contains petroleum?
It’s quite simple. Just use UV light with wavelengths of 254 and 365. When you use UV light to illuminate a Herkimer Diamond, it will exhibit fluorescence, appearing as a thin layer of glowing material. The fluorescence can have different colors such as blue, yellow, brown, purple, and more.
In many cases, the presence of petroleum can also be visually observed without any tools. The petroleum inclusions will be apparent as distinct shades of yellow, orange, or red within the stone.
Herkimer Diamonds contains petroleum
under the UV light
Healing Properties
Herkimer Diamond is a powerful stone and is known as a gemstone of high vibrational light. It’s helpful with healing because of its brilliance, and clarity. With 18 facets and double termination, it can transmit potent energy.
By legend, during the time of Lemuria, an aquatic civilization, people already used Herkimer Diamonds quartz for healing purposes. People used high vibrations between two pointed ends of stone which has barcodes for healing. They believed the high vibrations and the barcode have the potential to generate healing energy.
In the past, people lived with simple minds and had fewer illnesses, making them easier to heal. During the Lemurian era, they used methods like crystals, gemstones, music, and singing bowls to aid in healing. They also used Herkimer Diamonds to clear out blockages.
Herkimer Diamond shines brightest in the spiritual realm. It connects to various chakras, including the crown, third eye, and heart, while also being compatible with all chakras. This crystal helps in removing blockages, clearing negative energy, facilitating astral travel, and establishing connections with spirit guides. It enhances clairaudient abilities, offering glimpses into past lives and revealing potential paths. This mystical stone is divinely connected, and when combined with a larger diamond in a grid, it is believed to open dimensional doorways.
Now that you have gained a basic understanding of this Clear Gemstone, feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments.
FAQ
Why are Herkimer Diamonds special?
They are double-terminated and hexagonal nugget that has natural 18 faces, 6 on each point and 6 more in the center. More, They are often born to be transparent, crystal clear, shiny, and do not need any polishing. This is rarity in the natural world.
Do Herkimer diamonds break easily？
It won’t be easily broken due to its hardness being 7.5. The hardest stone is a diamond, which has a hardness of 10.
How to identify if a Herkimer Diamond is natural?
The natural Herkimer diamond often has barcodes on the surface.
What is the difference between Herkimer Diamonds and regular diamonds?
Herkimer Diamonds are not true diamonds. They are quartz crystals. The term “diamond” is used due to its exceptional clarity and brilliance. Unlike regular diamonds, which are formed deep within the Earth’s mantle, Herkimer Diamonds are formed near the surface.
Are Herkimer Diamonds rare?
While Herkimer Diamonds are not as abundant as regular quartz crystal, they are not considered extremely rare. However, high-quality with special inclusions are relatively rare and more valuable.
Where can I buy Herkimer Diamonds?
Contact us for bulk wholesale. We offer wide variety of Herkimer Diamonds products, such as beads, necklaces, nuggets, specimen for collection, and so on.
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