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Quartz - Hydrocarbon Boundary Features
There is mounting evidence that hydrocarbons were present when the various types of quartz crystals were growing in the Herkimer Mining District.  This web page lists the range of features seen at the boundary between quartz, mostly Herkimer diamonds, and hydrocarbon.
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The information, and photography, on this website is copyright protected by W. David Hoisington, Ph. D. unless another author/photographer is cited.
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Updated - 03/09/2019
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Curved Quartz Hydrocarbon Contacts Curved Quartz Hydrocarbon Contacts Crystal Frost Features at Hydrocarbon Contacts Crystal Frost Features at Hydrocarbon Contacts
Note: This page is under construction. As the evidence is added there will be separate links to each feature below where more
photography can be found  The list may also expand with further research. If you know of a feature not listed please contact Dr. C.
Indentations, Dimples and Curved Contacts Indentations, Dimples and Curved Contacts Herkimer Diamond Curved Faces Herkimer Diamond Curved Faces Domes and Spheres Domes and Spheres Disk Face Flat Quartz Hydrocarbon Contacts Flat Quartz Hydrocarbon Contacts Block Hydrocarbon Contacts Block Hydrocarbon Contacts Wings and Plates Wings and Plates Hydrocarbon Forms Hydrocarbon Forms Spheres, Domes and Caps Spheres, Domes and Caps Blocks, Flakes and Plates Blocks, Flakes and Plates Jigsaw Pattern Jigsaw Pattern
Note: Crystal frost features are always found at the
quartz - hydrocarbon boundary
Arches - the most common feature Arches - the most common feature
Flat and Stacked Arches
Nipple Tipped Arches
Clear Arches and Ghost Arches
Curved Arches
Tip Contact Arches
3d Arches and “fish” shaped fragments
Rods and Elongated Frost Rods and Elongated Frost Hopper Weave Texture Hopper Weave Texture Interesting Inclusions Found in Herkimer Diamonds at the Boundary Interesting Inclusions Found in Herkimer Diamonds at the Boundary Spheres and Circular Forms as Inclusions Spheres and Circular Forms as Inclusions Swirl Patterns Swirl Patterns “Snake” Pipe and Black Arch Edge “Snake” Pipe and Black Arch Edge Bubble Patterns Bubble Patterns Micro Seeds and Trains Micro Seeds and Trains Hopper Seed Crystals Hopper Seed Crystals Unusual Forms Unusual Forms
If   you   have   a   collection
of     Herkimer     diamonds
then     you     most     likely
have     some     of     these
quartz      -      hydrocarbon
features in your crystals.
Thank you Shannon Haley Wilbur for the donation of 30 samples from the Fonda region.1/05/2019 and 3/2/2019 Check out her Facebook.
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