Dr. C’s Blog about Exploring the Herkimer Mining District

Every year something new is discovered within the Herkimer Mining District. You can find these under New Discoveries 

Dr. C’s notes and personal reflections on his exploration of the Herkimer Mining District, and the collaborative research project, presented in a casual conversational format.

What’s New!

Blog note, January 2016: New Web Design

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In 1999 I was recovering from completing my Ph. D. while opening amazonite pockets in Colorado.  My wife, a true Vermonter, wanted to return home so we packed everything into a 24ft Ryder truck and made the drive cross country.  Shortly after settling into our new home I made a trip over to the Herkimer Mining district,  I had been visiting there since the 1950’s and it was always a way for me to feel reconnected to mineral collecting in the Northeast. I opened a few pockets at DA, did the usual cleaning and trimming, and then went to add them to the Hoisington Herkimer collection.  As i was organizing the specimens one of them stood out as unusual.  It had this very odd looking druze (I later called this “baby floater” druze, changed to seed crystal druze).  I went on the Web to see if I could find out more about this specimen, and to my amazement I discovered that there was very little out there.  In fact there was very little information of substance and detail on the occurrence of Herkimer diamonds. Thus began my journey to change this, and to also make it free to the public.  HerkimerHistory.com was born. Mineral collecting now took on a different orientation,  I was no longer chasing after the bright and beautiful. The “sparkle fever” had been cured, almost (it is probably an incurable thing). My eyes were now redirected toward finding field information, talking to collectors and miners, and putting together an informative website. I spent time with the staff at the Albany State Museum and they were all very helpful.  The initial website launched in 2006 would not have been possible without their help.  Once the website was up and running I started passing out business cards and telling everyone that I was building an Internet site where we could put all the information we know about Herkimer diamonds.  Slowly people shared.  I am very grateful to “Mineral Mike” from DA who showed me things I had not seen, told me stories I had not heard, and introduced me to the owners of TCR.  I am also greatful to Bill and Ann, from Canada, who helped me to greatly expand my knowledge of AD.  Both Bob and Frank helped me to better understand the HBQ.  Basically, there are two Herkimer diamond producing areas: 1) the Middleville - St. Johnsville area and 2) the Fonda area.  To really understand how nature made Herkimer diamonds one needs to understand both areas, and every mine.  This was too big of an undertaking for me to do alone, so I decided to publicly make the Herkimer research project a collaborative one. The new website design, that has been transforming during 2016, is constructed to help with the collaborative aspect of the Herkimer diamond research project. HerkimerHistory.com is designed so that any new discovery, by anyone -- miner, collector, or academic -- can be added quickly and easily to the website - with credit cited! Several other features are incorporated into the new design: 1) It is a layered presentation with the most easy to understand information up front on the first layer and more complex information behind, 2) There are many more ways to navigate around the site (navigation bar, site map, next-previous, buttons to more information on almost every page), and 3) There are links to information about those who contribute - either specimens or information. In addition we have added a blog where the story of what is happening can be shared in a conversational way with the public. New finds, new ideas, trips, and other interesting information about the Herkimer Mining district and the collaborative research project will be added to the blog notes as time permits. The new website will continue to be developed and we are always open to suggestions on how to improve.  Click on contact us (top of the page) and send your ideas in an email.