Date:
6/14/2025
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Type of Trip:
Herkimer Quartz (Herkimer Diamond) Dig – A great opportunity to collect these unique quartz crystals in both ledge and tailings areas.
Location:
Diamond Mountain Mining – Little Falls, NY
Date:
Saturday, June 14, 2025
Time:
All-day dig (Exact times will be provided in the flyer)
Attendance Limit:
- FREE Dig for Club Members – Limited to 20 participants
- Additional members can attend up to a total of 40 participants, but must pay a fee.
Fees (CASH ONLY, Paid on-site):
- Free for the first 20 club members
- $100 per person for ages 14 and up (if beyond the first 20)
- $25 per person for ages 13 and under
Ages Allowed:
- 8 years & up
- Kids 13 and under must be closely supervised by a parent/guardian at all times
Food & Drinks:
Bring your own food and drinks – no food will be provided. This will also be noted in the flyer.
Important Notes:
- This is a shared trip with FM-NJ
- Limited spots available – sign up early!
How to Sign Up:
To secure your spot, contact Groundhog Dave:
- Call/Text: 732-939-4476
If you’re interested in the Diamond Mountain dig, Groundhog Dave will send additional details upon request.
This is a fantastic opportunity to collect Herkimer Diamonds with fellow club members, so don’t miss out!
Fee: $100 per day, kids 8-15yo - $50 per day
Safety Information: Safety / Steel Tip or Composite Rubber boots, safety goggles, work gloves. Hard Hat not required
Post Event Write-Up:
Attendees: Groundhog Dave, Hayley "Shakespeare" Nalepa, Dave "Dude" Miller and Ehmkay Delaleu; Giuseppe "Uncle Seppe" Liberti; Luca and Elizabeth Prendini; Aron and Joanna Paige; Noah "Arrowhead" Garwood, Rachel Goodson, Robyn Abrams, Yu Lin, Dan Ritter, Karla Serpico and Sam Ritter; Kristin Stine, Justin Cares, LaRonda Davis, Mike Biehl, Erik and Emory Jensen; Suzanne, Jarrath and Nate Shaw; Mike and Coleen Heinig
They say, it's hard to pass up a bargain, and Diamond Mountain Mining definitely has done very well in the advertising department of their popular "20 Club Members for FREE" campaign. Several Club members in 2024 had strongly encouraged the Groundhog to once again take advantage; however this didn't fit into the 2024 Field Trip schedules. Groundhog Dave made sure to secure a Spring sate for us for this year, and overall we did have a fun and enjoyable dig.
Aside from Groundhog Dave himself, this was the first time at this location for a fair number of the other attendees. Folks who had been there before several times, immediately noted the major change in the terrain, as a lot of the main ledge section had been trimmed back and extensively worked, no doubt by the numerous regulars and club attendees over time.
Staff Member Mike W. greeted us and showed us the "lay of the land" after the minimum-fuss sign in and briefing and overview. A short 5 - 10 minute walk, and we were into the woods and at the main ledge layer. Mike W. told us about the extensive work having been done there in recent times and told us about specific areas in the woods ("Heidi's Hill", the stream and surroundings, "Dead Zone", etc) that were fair game to check out. Some interesting geology and mineralogy was immediate evident, as blue-green Glauconite and 1 or 2 other sedimentary based minerals, occurred frequently in the majoritive host rock (Dolostone).
Folks enjoyed checking out the different areas of the ledge layer and into the woods, the different offerings. Convenience of the parking area being only a 10 minute walk away, was hard to beat, as well.
NOTABLE FINDS:
- 1 inch absolutely PRISTINE WATER CLEAR tabular Herkimer - Karla Serpico
- 2 or 3 x 1" tabular and crystalline Herkimers - Giuseppe "Uncle Seppe" Liberti
- 2 inch double term. Herkimer - Emory Jansen
- Various < 1 in to 1" Herks - Yu Lin
- several small < 1 cm WATER CLEAR Herks (some double term.) - Nate Shaw
- 1 inch Herkimer single term. - Ehmkay Delaleu
- small 1/2 cm double term. Herkimer in matrix - Luca Prendini
- 1 cm tabular Herkimer (single term.) - Kristin Stine; Mike Biehl
- very gemmy blue-green Glauconite in matrix - Groundhog Dave and Luca Prendini; likely others
** THERE MAY HAVE BEEN OTHER NOTABLE FINDS, THESE ARE THE ONES FOLKS TOLD ME ABOUT **
Many < 1/2 cm single and double terminated Herks were found on or near the surface thanks to the recent rains
AWARD: MOST HEAVY DIGGING / MOVING: Dan Ritter and Giuseppe "Uncle Seppe" Liberti
