Over   the   decades   that   man   has   been   collecting   these   shiny   gems   in   the   Herkimer district   people   have   developed   explanations,   their   “geologic   story”,   as   to   how Herkimer   diamonds   got   there.      Some   of   these   older   “stories”   about   how   Herkimer diamonds   were   made   are   still   on   the   Internet,   and   published   in   a   non-scientific book   as   recently   as   2014.   Some   of   these   old   stories   are   still   repeated   by   collectors as   fact,   rather   than   unsupported   myth.      These   old   myths   are   discussed   on   the   "old theories"   web   page   (see   research   page).   This   web   page   presents   a   new   story about   how   Herkimer   diamonds   were   made,   a   new   theory   -   the   Oil   and   Seed Crystal   Theory ,      which   is   explained   in   more   detail   on   the   research   page.   This page   presents   an   easy   an   overview   of   the   new   story,   with   easy   to   understand graphics, about how Herkimer diamonds were formed.

Links to each page in the “How Herkimer Diamonds Were Made” overview are presented below - or you can click next in the lower right of this page.

Herkimer Diamond Event:  The tiny crystals, and crystal frost, act as “seeds” on to which larger Herkimer diamonds grow.

Getting the Rock Ready: A series of geologic events occurred In the region to make a special “birth place”

The Fluid Follow Nature’s Pathways:  The “birth place” rock had to be connected to the source deep in the earth.

The Fluids Make Dolomite: The limestone “birth place” rock is converted to a dolomite rock.

Hydrocarbons, Oil, Follow:  The “holes” in the dolomite rock are coated sometimes filled, with oil.

Seed Crystal Event:  Very tiny quartz crystal, and crystal frost, by the millions, are formed throughout the region.

Ice Ages and Weathering:  Throughout the district the effects of weathering have had a important impact.

Photo by Blake Barnet 2015 Found by Adam Scanlon 2015 Crystal with  a “Black Seed” from AD 8 x5 mm

Understanding How the Story is Presented: The story is presented in “layers”, explained here.