Hi. Read this every day but first time I'm posting. Want to bring my 6 year old nephew to look for Herkimer diamonds in NY. (He lives in Boston) Has anyone gone recently and could make a suggestion or do you know any rock hounding spots for kids near Boston? Thanks.
Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2008 4:01 pm Posts: 1902 Location: Pine City, NY and Dothan, AL
I just realized - it's been over a decade since I've collected Herkimers!
The three I remember are Ace of Diamonds, Herkimer Diamond Mine, and Crystal Grove. I think they all have campgrounds, one is a KOA. There are a few more sites in the area as well. Here's a relatively new website: http://herkimerhistory.com/Mine_List_and_Directions.html
I've always liked Crystal Grove, but my style of collecting is a bit different from that of a beginner.
Any mine will be fun for you to visit. You'd be best off scrounging among the rubble at the base of the wall, or trying to break up rocks on the dumps. The latter requires knowledge of how to use a sledgehammer, and basic safety precautions like eye protection, gloves, and knowing that rock chips can injure people 30' away.
I'd suggest that Crystal Grove has more opportunity for digging in the dirt and finding crystals, though I've never pursued that option. Destroying ledge with heavy steel is more my thing.
Any reasonably patient and sharp-eyed young person should have a blast at any of the mines; nice little diamonds can even be found in the parking lots, especially after a rain, and one of the niftiest crystals I've ever seen was hammered off a boulder. It was a perfect break, exposing a clear 3/4" xl on both sides, such a cool piece.
Hope you make the trip and let us know how it went.
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