I was just out last weekend and found a 52mm 99% clear diamond and was trying to find a comparable on the net. I was seeing a few in that size that I would say are in the 75% clarity range, and one of the best Herk references at [www.herkimerhistory.com] says the largest diamonds top out at 4 cm. Mike comes close here: [www.innervisioncrystals.net] It's a neat crystal that I believe even exhibits negative crystal growth, as well as locking into a 9 diamond cluster with a huge 5 inch smoky! I should be able to post some pictures soon. But I am really curious about how big do the diamonds get (not the goonies or fractured ones). Thanks! http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,265369#msg-265369 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 02:59:45 +0000 Phorum 5.2.15a http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,272680#msg-272680 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,272680#msg-272680
You've struck on a good point that is hard to put it into words: What makes a Herk Diamond a "Diamond". For the sake of this conversation, I'm just asking for the largest clear quartz found in the district. I will note that my 52mm xtl that is pictured earlier in this post is surprising how much it looks like Arkansas quartz. Don't get me wrong though, it would never be confused for AR quartz, but it really doesn't look like it belongs to either NY or AR. I think it is because the proportions are off and it's a tabby. In my opinion what gives the Herks their diamond appearance is their perfect proportions (which allow for high reflections) and their high luster but I'm not sure if that theory holds up well on the big xls.

Yeah, by the time I drove allllllll the way down to the farmhouse I didn't even want to call the realtor. Just turned around and drove back up the lane.

There are more than a few holes dug up on the hill and it is interesting to see which ones produce more spherical quartz, smoky quartz, skeletals, carbon, etc. I guess Bill over at Hickory Hill has done some drill core testing and said that there was another layer of quartz 30 feet down from the 3 that you probably have exposed. It would be wonderful if you pasted your spherical quartz article over here so we could all chime in on it, as well as the district in general. I've found spherical quartz at Hickory Hill, but not Linda's yet.

On my claim at Linda's I have 3 distinct layers of quartz: The top one produces clear small diamonds in a myriad of pockets that are no larger than 6 inches. Then there is the Goony layer with pockets up to 6 feet in size. Under that is the druze layer which I really don't have much experience with but looks like pockets generally under 2 feet. Most of your pics look like the druze layer.]]> David Zimmerman (2) Rockhounds Tue, 02 Oct 2012 02:36:05 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,272677#msg-272677 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,272677#msg-272677 victor rzonca Rockhounds Tue, 02 Oct 2012 01:58:57 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,272517#msg-272517 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,272517#msg-272517
I'd have to agree with Wayne that I was hoping to find out what the largest clear diamonds are in the district, but it is also fun to see other crystals as well. Vic, that is a very nice elestial xl. It's nice to see what you've been scratching into over there. I've been half tempted to stop in and say hi one of these days. We looked at purchasing the old farm over there by your land, but I thought at the time that the property was situated too low on the hill to have the diamond stratas on it. Nice looking material you've posted here and on Jordi's site. I'd LOVE to see your photo of the skeletal when you reassemble it.

Frank found a 5 inch clear smoky a few weeks ago that was the best smoky I've seen in the district. It might even be in the running for the largest clear "diamond", but I didn't take a picture of it nor study it that long. Linda had it in her possession the last time I saw it and it is worth taking a look at the next time your up on the hill. I was supposed to be making a trip down next weekend but I'm now opting for digging garnets at Jefferys instead. Such hard decisions.........:)-D]]> David Zimmerman (2) Rockhounds Sun, 30 Sep 2012 14:42:43 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,272488#msg-272488 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,272488#msg-272488
I think the point of this thread was (A Totally Clear Clean Herk)
But that one you have is a big one, and I personally like the skeletal's!


Wayne]]> Wayne Corwin Rockhounds Sun, 30 Sep 2012 03:13:04 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,272445#msg-272445 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,272445#msg-272445 victor rzonca Rockhounds Sat, 29 Sep 2012 14:05:15 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,270293#msg-270293 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,270293#msg-270293
How awesome is that to have you post and find the thread. Looks like grandpa's mineral disease infected a few offspring!

I'll offer you a "vintage" station-wagon with NO title if you can produce a picture of this fabled monster! :-D Well, seriously, it should be posted so that it can be included in the "Best Minerals" section of this website, as it truly does sounds like the winner so far. Ideally some weights and measurements would be great as well.

What a story.]]> David Zimmerman (2) Rockhounds Tue, 04 Sep 2012 20:37:09 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,270284#msg-270284 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,270284#msg-270284 jason j baskin Rockhounds Tue, 04 Sep 2012 18:34:54 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,267163#msg-267163 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,267163#msg-267163 Earthfragments Rockhounds Tue, 31 Jul 2012 09:23:24 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,266652#msg-266652 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,266652#msg-266652 Wayne Corwin Rockhounds Mon, 23 Jul 2012 22:52:07 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,266636#msg-266636 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,266636#msg-266636
Donkey years ago, the miners found a seam of them and sold them as 'North Wales Diamonds' to locals and passer-bys. Mine are only between 0.75 - 1 inch inlength though. I didnt know what they were until Diggums told me they were probably Herks. Am chuffed I found them though in a small dark forested corner of North Wales, UK :-)

Claire]]> claire Brimson Rockhounds Mon, 23 Jul 2012 18:30:18 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,266445#msg-266445 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,266445#msg-266445
Word should get passed around that there should be a photographic record of the beast and that it be put in the best minerals section of this website. I'd LOVE to see a photo of it!

Dave]]> David Zimmerman (2) Rockhounds Fri, 20 Jul 2012 20:16:49 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,266103#msg-266103 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,266103#msg-266103
I was just told by Alan Benson of Alan's Minerals in New Jersey that the crystal is still in the possession of the Baskin family.

Best,

Joe Polityka]]> Joseph Polityka Rockhounds Tue, 17 Jul 2012 01:48:39 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,266017#msg-266017 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,266017#msg-266017 Wayne Corwin Rockhounds Mon, 16 Jul 2012 00:43:37 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,266006#msg-266006 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,266006#msg-266006 www.mindat.org] They even have tiny fluid inclusions with moving bubbles. A bigger one (10 cm long and pictured in UK Journal of Mines & Minerals, No. 30, p.40) was also found at the same locality by a friend of mine, but sadly later lost in a garage fire. The quarry that produced them is no longer working in the mineralised area, and even when it was Herkies were rare.]]> Stephen Moreton Rockhounds Sun, 15 Jul 2012 21:04:57 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,265931#msg-265931 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,265931#msg-265931
You would've gotten more style points with saying " Yup, this is THE Ian!" or maybe even saying "I am...THAT Ian!".:-D

Ron,

That's a pretty classic "goonie" (local terminology) crystal and it is probably from Fonda. In Fonda, I'd say only about 20% come out as intact as yours appear. Goonies get bonus points for having little contact with the walls and for being ellestial and smoky, but most of the goonies can be really milky and ugly. Thanks for posting your picture!

Have Fun,

Dave]]> David Zimmerman (2) Rockhounds Sun, 15 Jul 2012 01:00:19 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,265928#msg-265928 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,265928#msg-265928
[attachment 39474 Herkimer_2.jpg]

It needs a good cleaning and it is not very clear. But it is huge (just under 6 inchs).]]> Ronald J. Pellar Rockhounds Sat, 14 Jul 2012 23:52:30 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,265903#msg-265903 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,265903#msg-265903
Yup this is the Ian. Nice to hear from you again and it was a pleasure to meet you. I was actually thinking about your Fonda tales while I was reading this thread. Interesting feature indeed.

Cheers.
Ian]]> Ian Merkel Rockhounds Sat, 14 Jul 2012 18:19:27 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,265896#msg-265896 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,265896#msg-265896
You're not the Ian I was just digging with in NV, are you? (CO Ian) I do not believe it is a contact that is making the cone shapes. I started a separate thread concerning the strange growth titled "Negative Crystal Growth" which has a lot of detail and theories being tossed about how it was formed. I would like to keep this thread on the topic of what are the largest Herkimer Diamonds out there, and so far Cliff is the winner at an astounding 4 inches.

Cheers,

Dave (and Jane)]]> David Zimmerman (2) Rockhounds Sat, 14 Jul 2012 17:45:01 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,265886#msg-265886 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,265886#msg-265886
Cheers.
Ian]]> Ian Merkel Rockhounds Sat, 14 Jul 2012 15:31:25 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,265533#msg-265533 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,265533#msg-265533 Wayne Corwin Rockhounds Mon, 09 Jul 2012 22:33:30 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,265461#msg-265461 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,265461#msg-265461
I guess I'd still like to focus on nearly perfect diamonds and what are the largest sizes.

[attachment 39389 Compressed1.jpg]

[attachment 39390 Compressed2.jpg]

[attachment 39391 Compressed3.jpg]]]> David Zimmerman (2) Rockhounds Mon, 09 Jul 2012 02:26:39 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,265437#msg-265437 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,265437#msg-265437 found one large pocket with a few smaller crystals that were fractured but quite gemmy. I did find one fist sized light smokey colored gem crystal that that had very few flaws inside but was attached to a larger crystal that was nearly opaque. Crystals to 1 foot were found at times but seldom complete. We soon went back to digging in the Herkimer area.

Cliff]]> Clifford Trebilcock Rockhounds Sun, 08 Jul 2012 20:38:19 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,265427#msg-265427 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,265427#msg-265427 The big problem was that being two and a half feet from the existing surface there was a lot of internal fracturing that occurred due to the severe winter freezing in that part of NY. So yes they can get considerably bigger than 4 inches BUT only rarely are they fracture free.

Steve.

p.s. the crystals were removed by hand and I paid the price with many band-aide covered lacerations from my best pocket ever.]]> Steven Kuitems Rockhounds Sun, 08 Jul 2012 18:59:34 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,265401#msg-265401 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,265401#msg-265401
Chet]]> Chester S. Lemanski, Jr. Rockhounds Sun, 08 Jul 2012 13:12:39 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,265399#msg-265399 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,265399#msg-265399 That was very interesting. I have put your comment in the Best Minerals, Quartz, USA article that contains the Herkimer diamond entries.]]> Rock Currier Rockhounds Sun, 08 Jul 2012 11:56:46 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,265392#msg-265392 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,265392#msg-265392
Quite sure of the 4 inch size as my parents and I used to meet up with Therm Baskin at Herkimer every Summer to dig for
Herkimers.We would camp and dig 4-5 days at a time. We came down from Maine and if time permitted we continued on to collect at Franklin,NJ. We would stop to see Therm on the way, so had a chance to see his "Herkimer" several times. He
and his son sometimes came to Maine to collect minerals a few days with us, most Summers.We lost contact when I went off to college in New Mexico and then later into the service.Still remember one very productive visit to Herkimer. We worked 4 days in nonstop shifts,found 11 large pockets that contained from 1/2 to a full 5 gallon bucket of crystal packed mud,as well as several large mounds of drusy Herkimers from the centers. The good old days and nights at Herkimer, working with
coleman lanterns all night. Some mineral collectors called it fun but the crystals sure sparkle at night.

Cliff]]> Clifford Trebilcock Rockhounds Sun, 08 Jul 2012 10:50:42 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,265377#msg-265377 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,265377#msg-265377
WOW, a 4" diamond! Yeah, you and I both would love to see that thing again!!:)-D

While your details are great, I am wondering if it wasn't the case of a school-aged Cliff holding his first 1.5 inch diamond and now recalling the proportions in his hand!! :-D

Seriously though, what a killer find. I thought the Herk History site was way low on their 4 cm claim.]]> David Zimmerman (2) Rockhounds Sun, 08 Jul 2012 03:30:19 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,265375#msg-265375 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,265375#msg-265375
The largest perfect Herkimer Diamond I have seen came from the "Ace of Diamonds" area in the late 1950's. It was collected
by Therm Baskin from New Jersey at that time. The crystal was completely flawless,doubly terminated,no inclusions.no carbon inside or out,no tiny or other attached crystals. It was the only crystal in a pocket the size of a 10 qt bucket. The crystal was nicely proportioned and about 4 inches in length. He was offered $10,000 dollars by the owner of the mine the day he found it. Smithsonian Museum also wished to acquire it at the time. Last time I saw the crystal it was still in his glass showcase at his house in the early 1960's. He always told me he had no intentions of ever selling it. Anyone know where it is today?

Cliff]]> Clifford Trebilcock Rockhounds Sun, 08 Jul 2012 03:08:08 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,265369#msg-265369 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,15,265369,265369#msg-265369 www.herkimerhistory.com] says the largest diamonds top out at 4 cm. Mike comes close here: [www.innervisioncrystals.net]

It's a neat crystal that I believe even exhibits negative crystal growth, as well as locking into a 9 diamond cluster with a huge 5 inch smoky! I should be able to post some pictures soon. But I am really curious about how big do the diamonds get (not the goonies or fractured ones).

Thanks!]]> David Zimmerman (2) Rockhounds Sun, 08 Jul 2012 02:23:55 +0000