Andy Hall, of Morgantown, W.Va., toured the mines’ museum Sunday with his children and girlfriend. He said he was impressed by the large display of Herkimer diamonds, and he was taken aback by how they can be found in the mines.
“It just kind of blows my mind – like how come we don’t have these back home?” he said.
The three-day Gems Festival wrapped up Sunday, after more than 500 people attended the primary day of the festival Saturday, Herkimer Diamond Mines associate Mike Hinman said.
“There were a lot of people,” he said. “Even though the weather was bad, it was still pretty good.”
Visitors Saturday were able to bring in gems to be appraised, participate in jewelry classes and hunt for gems. On Sunday, the museum and shop were busy, while people outside sifted through bags of rock and dirt in search of their own treasures.
Much can be found in a $10 bag, said Bill Bath and Jeanne Krull of Andover, N.J., as they added to their large collection that included Herkimer diamonds — quartz crystals that mimic diamonds — and an arrow head.
“I’m halfway through it, and I found all this,” Bath said.
Krull said they wanted to go camping, and the mines were a big draw that added to their decision to visit Herkimer.
“Who doesn’t like a little digging in the dirt or playing in the water every now and then?” she said.
Bath and Krull said they planned to buy souvenirs for their friends and pass along a good word about the area.
“It’s nice up here,” Bath said.
Michael Christian and his son, Judah, 10, also rummaged through rocks Sunday. They used a sluice box to hold the larger findings while water pushed away the dirt and smaller rocks.
They just moved to Skaneateles from Seattle in March, and Sunday was already their second visit to the mines, Michael Christian said.
“He’s pretty astute in it,” Michael Christian said of his son. “He can name the rocks; I can’t.”
Shortly after, it proved to be true.
“I found another one,” Judah Christian said as he grabbed a clear, pinkish gem. After his father asked what it was, Judah said he thought it was a rose quartz.
As they continued to look, Michael Christian raised his head and smiled.
“It’s just cool to do this kind of stuff with your kids,” he said.
Source-uticaod.com
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