HerkimerHistory.com

The best website on "Herkimer Diamonds"

This site was last updated on July, 2010

Information and Mineral Sequence for Turtle Clan Ridge (TCR)

Definitions and Scope:

This location is currently closed to collectors.  You can be arrested if you enter without permisson.

By permission of the owner, research was done on this location and is published on HerkimerHistory.com.  The TCR location contains features not found at other Herkimer Diamond deposits, but which are likely to be critical in understanding the history of Herkimer diamond formation.

A public service project always open to input  from the community interested in Herkimer diamonds.
Photographs illustrating each mineralization phase:
"In place" pocket and location photographs:
Maps and Directions:
Tip and resources for diamond digging at this location:
Web page author - W. David Hoisington, Ph.D.
Photographs of "common" crystal habits largely unique to this location:
The TCR location has excellent specimens of the Cumberland habit (arrow points to it).  Perched on top of primatic druze, which is on top of pyramidal druze, is a smoky Cumberland habit quartz crystal.  The specimen is 5 cm across, collected 2009 (with permission from the owner).
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Photo Dr. D. 2010
All of the druze phases are well developed at the TCR location, including some not present at other Herkimer diamond mines - see druze page
These Cumberland habit crystals can also be found as loose singles - see the odd habit page.
You can not enter this location without the owners permission.
No map or directions will be provided as this is a private location.

Information is currently being collected for this webpage. Note: There are pictures of some of the mineral phases from TCR on the various webpages throughout this site.

Information is currently being collected for this webpage.

Mineral Sequence Diagram:
To see example photos of each of these mineral phases, please go to the general mineral sequence disgram and click on the mineral you want to see.                      Click "minerals" --------->
Also worthy of note for the TCR location is the skeletal/hopper crystal formation which looks like it is slightly different than the hopper crystals from other locations.  See skeletal page

This author was given special access not only to the mine but also to specimens for photography and donated specimens for more detailed work.  The information from the Turtle Clan Ridge (TCR) deposit has helped considerably in understanding the "History of Herkimer Diamonds".  Research does not advance without the help of the community and warm thanks needs to be extended to the TCR mine owners.

What has come from this mine thus far?  1) Quartz spheres, 2) black carbon spheres, 3) new types of druze, 4) Cumberland habit quartz crystals (see below) and possibly new data about the formation of hopper crystals.  Also two important dolomite specimens were found,  third phase calcite was found (see calcite page), and possible evidence of hydrothermal action (hydrothermal page).  The TCR location also produces some beautiful smoky crystals, probably the best in the district (see the color page).  All of these are new features and the photographs are scattered throughout the website (for your convenience links are easily accessed using the underlined words above).

The TCR deposit has not been worked as extensively as some of the other deposits, but extra care was taken to "save everything".  This was a boon to science as there were many specimens in the "save pile" that were of scientific interest.  There is still much more to discover at this unique location and there is photography to be done of private collection material.  Only time will tell what will be revealed next.

There is some question about whether this crystal habit should be called a "Herkimer Diamond" or be called "Cumberland habit".  It is a unique habit for the district and should probably be distinguished as such.

Some amazing material that has not been photographed has come from here.

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