Quartz, var. Herkimer Diamond

Herkimer Diamonds are a special variety of Quartz, found in Herkimer county, New York. The deposit occurs in dolomite (silicified limestone) and is incredibly difficult to break. Fossils are found alongside Herkimers, that further indicates a low temperature crystallization. Miners use heavy sledge hammers and chizels to remove many feet of overburden, to expose the pocket layer. Herkimers were named by General Herkimer in the mid 1800's.

This interesting cluster consists of 5 clear crystals, that grew this way in the pocket, were mined individually and then re-constructed using clear epoxy. There are several small contacts (where ever smaller herks grew and were not recovered), and one small black spot where it contacted the dolomite slightly. Overall damage free.