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AIPG Field trip to Herkimer October 2, 2026

by Bill Stephens, PG, President, Friends of Mineralogy National

Herkimer Diamonds are a unique form of double-terminated quartz crystals found primarily in Herkimer County, New York. Unlike typical quartz crystals that grow attached to a host rock, Herkimer Diamonds form as free-floating crystals within cavities of the host rock, allowing them to develop their distinct double-terminated ends. These crystals are renowned for their exceptional clarity and natural faceting, often possessing 18 faces, which is rare among quartz crystals. Photo from Herkimer Diamond: Discover Its Meaning, Uses & Benefits (crystalstones.com).

Friends of Mineralogy National President Bill Stephens, PG, and new Director David Tibbits, PhD Candidate at Rutgers University, both also directors of the Herkimer Diamond Research Institute (HDRI), will lead a field trip the afternoon of Friday October 2, 2026 to Fonda Mountain and Treasure Mountain in the Herkimer Quartz Crystal District of East-Central New York. 

The field trip will be hosted by the Northeast Section of the American Institute of Professional Geologists (NE AIPG). The afternoon field trip will focus on high accuracy mapping, structural Geology and the stratigraphy of the Little Falls Dolostone and its quartz bearing zones and will be worth 3 Continuing Education Units for PGs. 

The afternoon field trip will be followed by a dinner meeting and presentation worth another CEU to PG attendees. The event is open to students and non-geologists alike. The property owner, Bob Borofsky has generously reduced the rate to $90/day for those interested in digging Saturday and Sunday after the event and I plan to stay on for the weekend. See details on the NE-AIPG website below.  See you there!

Registration for the meeting is open on the NE Section AIPG website:  https://ne-aipg.org/

Registration closes on Monday 9/28, but people are encouraged to register early, especially if planning to attend the dinner meeting as it has a limit of 30-40 people. 

https://neaipg.starchapter.com/meetinginfo.php direct link to meetings page.