Herkimer diamonds are found in Herkimer County in the Adirondacks.
Herkimer diamonds are found in the hills close to Herkimer, New York, in the southwestern edge of the Adirondack Park. Although called diamonds because of their clarity and brilliance, these are not diamonds at all, but silicon dioxide, the most common mineral in the Earth's crust. Their exclusivity makes them particularly sought after by the esoteric community, including alternative healers.
The Mineral
Herkimer diamonds are a unique form of quartz crystal, with 18 facets and two pointed ends. Most natural quartz crystals grow out from and are attached to the matrix in which they are found. They are single terminated, meaning they have a point at just the one end, while Herkimer diamonds have a point at each end and are double terminated. Herkimer diamonds are found in cavities in Dolomite Rock that are about 500 million years old. It is thought that the rock in which they are found was once soft clay, enabling the crystals to grow in both directions at once.
Where
Herkimer diamonds were first discovered in the late 18th century in the hills around the Mohawk River Valley in New York state. There are two commercial mines, the Ace of Diamonds Mine and Herkimer Diamond Mine located along Route 28 in Herkimer County. Similar crystals found in China, the Ukraine, Afghanistan, Norway and Arizona are sometimes misnamed Herkimer diamonds. The cavities in which these stones are found are frequently lined with Drusy quartz crystals and hydrocarbons.
Physical properties
Herkimer diamonds have a hardness of 7 on the Mohr's scale, on which true diamonds rank as a 9. The crystals are piezoelectric, which means they can convert one form of energy into another. When pressure is applied to a Herkimer diamond, energy is discharged in the form of heat, light and electrical voltage. The double-terminated nature of these crystals makes the piezoelectric effect more pronounced than single-terminated crystals of the same mineral. This effect explains why they are so powerful in the metaphysical sense.
Attunement
The Herkimer diamond is often called the attunement stone and can be used to tune one person to another person, a situation or a group of people. Two people can hold two stones at the same time and then carry the stones when they're apart, so they are continually in tune with each other. Two people wearing a Herkimer diamond pendant, for example, are said to be able to communicate telepathically with each other more easily.
The stones can also be programmed metaphysically to tune into a situation or another person's consciousness. They can then carry that energy of healing and caring thoughts and be used to help heal others from afar off.
Metaphysical Properties
Herkimer diamond crystals are very powerful balancer of the body and its emotions. They should therefore be used carefully. Being double-terminated gives the crystals super power. The crystals enhance extrasensory perception. In a crystal healing layout, the crystals enhance the energy of any other crystal they are placed alongside. Healers use the crystals for their power to release energy blockages, to affect the chakras and as healing pendulums. Mystical teachings say that the crystal can be used to cure addictions and do away with toxins.
When worn, the crystals help to connect the physical body with the astral sphere. They can help people recall dreams, but if worn at night, their powerful properties can make a dream appear so vivid that it seems real. An amethyst worn alongside the Herkimer will soften its energy, and you will remember the dream but be rested.
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