Desert Messenger

14 www.DesertMessenger.com November 19, 2014 SEE ROCKS PAGE 26 ADVENTURES WITH ROCKS 500 million years ago, in what we know today as New York, a shallow Cambrian Period sea lapped gently against the southern shores of the ancient yet still forming Adirondack Mountains. During this time, a very unique set of conditions began to de- velop which gave birth to an extremely rare and very beautiful gemstone, the Herkimer Diamond. Herkimer Diamonds are not true dia- monds, but rather are an extremely rare formation of Silicon Dioxide, better known as Quartz, whereas Dia- monds are hard, condensed forms of Carbon. Compared to a Diamond's hardness of 10, a Herkimer Diamond By Jenn Jedidiah Free for RocksInMyHead™ The wonderful world of carbon has a hardness of 7.5. Additionally, natural Diamond crystals occur typi- cally as octahedron (8 sided) or dodeca- hedron (12 sided) shapes. Herkimer Diamonds, and other quartz crystals, occur in a naturally faceted state with 18 faces or sides. While typical Quartz crystals form in many types of geologic environments, Herkimer Diamonds form in only one - a sedimentary rock called Little Falls Dolostone. Dolostone (also called Do- lomite) is a highly compacted form of limestone (Calcium Carbonate) in which magnesium is also present. Dolomite is a porous rock. During the Cambrian times, in what is now the great state of New York, much tectonic and hy- drothermal activity was taking place, resulting in the creation of the Adiron- dack Mountains. These forces together created fi ssures and pockets, called vugs, in the porous Dolostone bedrock, while deep beneath the surface, a liquid mixture of hydrogen and oil, called hydrocarbon, was heating to almost 200 degrees Centigrade. Geo- thermal forces pushed gases and hydrocarbons up through fi ssures in the Dolostone and into pock- ets where they cooled and solidifi ed. In cer- tain instances, some of the hydrocarbon fl uids were also supersaturated with dissolved quartz which crystallized as it cooled. It is in this rare and unique combina- tion of geologic and chemical factors that Herkimer Diamonds grow. The crystals form in vugs lined with hy- drocarbon coated druzy, and it is this abundance of carbon in their environ- ment that gives Herkimer Diamonds a slightly different ratio of carbon to sili- con as compared to typical rock crystal quartz. The incredible clarity of Her- kimer Diamonds is due to this slightly altered carbon-silicon ratio. Because they grow in pockets, the crystals are able to form their full natural double- termination. Other quartz crystals typically form with only one termina- tion because they grow from a base em- bedded in a host rock. Herkimer Diamond crystals exhibit very specifi c characteristics. They have 18 fairly equal size faces, distributed as 6 sides with two terminations, and the alignment of the faces is shifted slight- ly. In typical rock crystal, the faces are aligned. Herkimer Diamonds also have one or two small extra faces, where the misalignment causes the faces to meet unevenly and extra faces are needed to fi ll in the gaps. Misalignment and ex- tra faces are two characteristics which distinguish Herkimers from other dou- ble terminated quartz crystals. Her- kimer Diamonds occur as clear, white, champagne, golden, and smoky crys- tals. The yellow color is believed to be caused by the presence of limonite in the quartz solu- tion. In smoky speci- mens, the color is due to radiation from the presence of uranium coming into contact with the carbon in that particular crystal's en- vironment. Herkimer diamonds often contain other materials within them that are called inclusions. These inclusions can be fl uids, minerals, or bubbles. Fluid inclusions called enhydros con- tain liquid, like water or oil, that was trapped during the formation of the crystal. Bubbles of air can be found as inclusions in Herkimer crystals. There are many types of mineral in- clusions, depending on the environ- ment unique to that crystal. Some min- eral inclusions are hydrocarbons, tiny fragments of dolomite, marcasite, or selenite. On rare occasions, pieces of decayed plant matter which look like tiny bits of coal are found as inclusions in a crystal. These organic inclusions, called anthraxolites, are rare and excit- ing. Since Herkimer crystals are 500 million years old, the organic matter included in them is at least the same age, and would be among the earliest known plants on earth. True Herkimer Diamonds are found in only one location in the world- Mid- dleville, NY. There are several private mines from which Herkimers come, and some of them offer pay to dig ser- VFW Post 769 VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS 120 S. Palo Verde, Quartzsite, AZ, 928-927-7697 The Canteen is a smoking establishment • Members & Guests Only for Alcohol Service ACTIVITIES FOR CORPORAL BEN SCOTT POST 769 AND LADIES AUXILIARY 769 We are collecting coupons you may have that you won't use. These go to the military families who can use them up to 6 months after expiration. Collection boxes will be placed in businesses around Town, churches, and at the Post. Please help us in this endeavor to assist our Veterans. CALENDAR OF EVENTS: December 6 – Rose and Gary Fraser Me- morial ChickNik at Fire Station – 12 to 4p.m. which is a benefi t to assist those training for fi re fi ghting. December 6 – Christmas Light Parade at dark. Come out and enjoy the fl oats December 7 – Pearl Harbor Day Flag Cer- emony – 10:48 a.m. Also Pot Luck (entrée Furnished) – 12:00 noon. December 10 - Party to Honor/Remember Fallen Veterans at Post noon-4pm December 13 - Christmas Wreath Parade to Cemetery. Wreath laid at monument to remember our veterans at Christmas time. Everyone is encouraged to attend. December 20 – Christmas Party and Pot Luck – 2:00 p.m. Annual Borderline Riders Christmas Run in Yuma. Funds raised are used to assist homeless Veterans. December 25 - Merry Christmas! Chirstmas Party at Post 10am-4pm January 10 – Hi-Jolly Parade sponsored by VFW. More information coming soon. Check our VFW Post 769 website for additional activities www.vfwpost769.org Comrades meeting -Dec. 13 - 9:00 a.m. at Post Ladies Auxiliary meets- Dec. 13 - 9 a.m. at Post House Committee meets - Dec. 13 - 10 a.m. at Post Mens Auxiliary – Dec. 8 - 1 p.m. at Post District 1 Riders meeting 2nd Sat 2 p.m. - TBA What in the World is Happening? Wars • Big Brother • NSA • Borders • Mideast Crisis • Disease • Jobs Terrorism • Anarchy •Moral Decline • Earthquakes • Tyranny Gun Control • U.S. Power Decline • Etc., Etc. End Time Prophesies are found in the Bible Book of Revelation Revelation Bible Study on the Air Tuesdays @ 7:30am Starting Nov. 4th Scanners are to learn of emergencies. Listed above are EMERGENCIES! Police/Fire Scanners: 147.36 MHZ Ham Radio Operators: 147.36+ MHZ, 107.5 tone

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