New York is a city that in the 21st century can rightfully be called the city that never sleeps. It is in New York that you can find absolutely everything: from delicious food and branded clothing to famous landmarks and legendary places. But only a few people know that this city is full of gems. These are not the gems you can buy at Tiffany’s, but the jewels hidden underground. More at new-york.name.
Gem deposits in New York
One of the most famous gem deposits in New York is Herkimer County. It is home to Herkimer Diamonds, a type of quartz crystal valued for its purity and unique double-ended shape. Unlike traditional diamonds, Herkimer diamonds are not made of carbon, but of pure silica.
Herkimer Diamonds are produced at the Herkimer diamond mines. In addition, in the 21st century, many New Yorkers, as well as tourists, can see live how this process takes place. The diamond mining company offers tours and the opportunity to find crystals in the mines themselves. The mines are open every year from April to October. During this period, visitors can buy a bucket of dirt and sift through it to find their treasures.
Another popular place to hunt for gems in New York is the Garnet Mine in Warren County. The Garnet Mine is one of the oldest and largest garnet mines in the world. Every year, tours are held here, during which all interested visitors can go searching for their garnets. Garnets are a type of mineral that can come in different colors, from dark red to bright green.
What gems can be found in New York City?
In addition to New York’s famous gems such as diamonds and garnets, the city is also home to a variety of other minerals and crystals. The state has a rich geological history, with rocks and minerals dating back billions of years. Other gems that can be found in New York include:
- Fluorite is a colorful mineral that is prized for its vivid hues. It can be found in only a few places across the state
- Wavellite is a rare mineral found in only a few places in the world, including New York City. It is prized for its unique spherical shape and bright-green color
- Sphalerite is a zinc mineral that often occurs together with other minerals and can come in a variety of colors, including yellow, green and red
- Agate is a stone with an outstanding pattern that resembles an eye
- Heliotrope – also known as blood stone, a mineral of the quartz group that is dark green in color
- Brucite is a white or green mineral in the form of continuous leafy masses that look like gypsum
- Clinochlore is a green or dark green mineral that is often found in the form of scales.
The following gemstones are also mined or simply found in the state of New York: corundum, diopside, epidote, fluorite, hematite, jasper, labradorite, orthoclase, perthite, sapphire, scapolite, scorodite, serpentine, sunstone and tremolite.
New Yorkers and tourists alike in the 21st century can learn more about New York’s geological history and the gems that are found here at the New York State Museum in Albany. The museum offers visitors a vast collection of minerals and rocks from across the state.
New York has long been rich in gem deposits, from diamonds to garnets and beyond. In the 21st century, this state is rightfully considered a real treasure trove of natural wonders. Many gem deposits in the 21st century are just waiting to be discovered.