What's the difference between Herkimer diamonds and true diamonds?
Introduction
Have you ever wondered what the difference is between Herkimer Diamonds and true diamonds? Well this site will help you learn about Herkimer Diamonds and true diamonds.
Some people believe that Herkimer Diamonds are real diamonds, but this site will tell you otherwise!
What are Herkimer Diamonds made of?
Herkimer Diamonds are made of oxygen and silicone, two simple ingredients that are found on Earth. These ingredients have been compressed under thousands of tons of Earth for millions of years.
How are Herkimer Diamonds formed?
Herkimer Diamonds were formed at Little Falls dolostone. The way the Herkimers are formed is carbon and silicon are trapped under layers and layers of earth. The Little Falls dolostone was created over 500 million years ago. That's where the Herkimer diamonds were formed.
How are Herkimer Diamonds brought up to the surface?
Herkimer Diamonds are brought up to the surface by movements in the Earth's surface. It takes 1,000,000 years for the Herkimer Diamonds to come up to the surface by the movement of tectonic plates.. Diamonds are brought up to the surface by volcanic eruptions called diamond pipers.
How do Herkimer Diamonds get their sides?
Herkimers are double terminated quartz crystals. That means Herkimers come out of the ground with smooth sides and flat edges.
True Diamonds
True diamonds are made of carbon that has been compressed for billions of years underneath the Earth and they are brought up by volcanic eruptions called diamond pipers.
Diamonds are formed under hundreds and thousands of tons of rock under the Earth near the mantle. The heat and pressure are enough to turn diamonds over millions of years into a beautiful crystal.
How do Diamonds get smooth edges?
Diamonds get their smoothness from being painstakingly cut with a strong grinder because they come up rough from the ground.
Similarities and Differences
Herkimer Diamonds are brought up to the surface by the movement of tectonic plates, but diamonds are brought up by volcanic eruptions called diamond pipers. The difference is Herkimers take longer.
The similarities are that they both need a vibration to get up to the surface because a volcanic eruption means movement of the plates to be set off and also that is how Herkimer Diamonds get up to the surface.
The Difference
Diamonds get their smoothness from being painstakingly cut with a strong grinder because they come up rough from the ground. But the Herkimers are double terminated quartz crystals. That means Herkimers come out of the ground with smooth sides and flat edges.
Herkimer Diamonds are not true diamonds. Instead they are quartz crystals. Herkimers diamonds are usually not as clear as real diamonds.
I hope you liked this site and you learned something.
True diamonds are made of carbon that has been compressed for billions of years underneath the Earth. They are brought to the surface by volcanic eruptions called diamond pipers.
A Herkimer diamond.
This photo shows silicone dioxide. Silicone is one of the main ingredients of a Herkimer diamond.
Oxygen is an element on the periodic table. Herkimer diamonds are made from silicone and oxygen.
The rock that is known as dolostone is where Herkimer diamonds are formed.
True diamonds are made of carbon instead of silicone and oxygen.
This is a grinder for diamonds to give them smooth sides.
Herkimer diamonds are double terminated, as shown in the photo above. Double terminated means that it has two facets or two points.
This is a view of a diamond mine. In the United States, true diamonds have been found in Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Montana .
Visit these sources to find more information:
Websites about Herkimer Diamonds and True Diamonds.
Books about Diamonds.
My Little Book of Rock and Gems. by Claudia Martin.
Rock Solid Facts :
Herkimer diamonds are older than true diamonds.
You can make industrial diamonds shown in this video blow.
