Herkimer Diamond Mining Booms Amid Arctic Resource Shift

A young boy named Ezekiel Sehmoyeo stands in a Central New York mine, staring at the rock he just pulled from the wall. The clear quartz crystal in his hand, known as a Herkimer diamond, represents one of the biggest finds he has ever made. These natural crystals, prized for their clarity and double-pointed shape, draw thousands of visitors each summer to the mines near Utica, where State Route 28 winds through glacial hills once owned and mined by the Mohawks. The stones are not actual diamonds, but their natural faceted surfaces and remarkable hardness make them treasures worth seeking.

“If you’re not talking about expensivest, probably this one’s my most biggest I’ve ever found,” Ezekiel said with a shy smile.

Renee Shevat, the second-generation owner of the mine, traces her family’s connection to the property back to 1979, when her father purchased the land. The history of these stones, she explains, stretches back centuries through Native American trade, European settlement, and American revolutionary efforts. The Mohawks were among the first to discover the crystals, using them as wampum beads in trade networks. During the American Revolution, Gen. Nicholas Herkimer developed a plan to use the stones to help fund his army, demonstrating early recognition of their economic value.

From Farmland to Tourist Destination

The transformation of the Herkimer diamond site into a public attraction began in the early 20th century. A local farmer started allowing people to search his land for crystals for a few cents, establishing the model that would later flourish. Shevat’s father democratized gem hunting when he bought the property and developed it into the tourist destination it is today, making the experience accessible to visitors of all backgrounds. The mine now serves both recreational tourists and serious geological researchers conducting lapidary work.

The geological significance of these crystals sets them apart from other quartz formations around the world. Herkimer diamonds hold three distinct characteristics that make them internationally famous: they are approximately half a billion years old, making them the oldest crystal material on Earth; they possess exceptional clarity unmatched by other crystals; and they rank 7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, surpassing most other crystals that top out at 7. While actual diamonds rank 10 on the scale, that extra half-point of hardness in Herkimer diamonds creates substantial opportunities for economic applications that lighter crystals cannot fulfill.

“The reason why these are so interesting and so famous internationally is that the crystal is the oldest material in the world. It’s a half a billion years old,” Shevat said. “The second is that it’s the clearest crystal … The third is it’s the hardest.”

Arctic Diamond Industry Faces Contraction

While New York’s Herkimer diamond tourism flourishes, Canada’s Northwest Territories confronts a starkly different reality in diamond mining. The region, home to approximately 45,000 people and extending from the Alberta border to the Arctic Ocean, faces rapid decline in its traditional economic engines. Diamond mining, the largest segment of the territorial economy, is contracting dramatically as major operations shut down or scale back significantly.

Rio Tinto Group closed its Diavik diamond mine this month, while Burgundy Diamond Mines Ltd. laid off several hundred workers after halting part of its Ekati operations last year. The economic challenges extend beyond diamonds, with Imperial Oil Ltd. announcing plans to shutter its century-old Norman Wells oil operation later this year. The Northwest Territories, larger than California and Texas combined, has experienced net economic decline over the past decade despite maintaining a steady population.

Strategic Pivot to Critical Minerals

Premier R.J. Simpson remains optimistic despite the closures, pointing to emerging opportunities in the Arctic’s strategic resources. New mining opportunities are opening up in the rush to secure resources critical for military and electronic needs, driven by melting polar ice caps that create new shipping routes, NATO countries seeking to secure Arctic territory, and growing appetite for critical minerals. The premier notes that United States President Donald Trump’s threats regarding Greenland have focused international attention on Arctic resources and security.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Mark Carney visited the territorial capital of Yellowknife to announce $32 billion to shore up Arctic defences. The Canadian government simultaneously sent a series of northern infrastructure proposals to the Major Projects Office, an entity that helps secure financing and shepherds projects through regulatory hurdles. These proposals include the Mackenzie Valley Highway, an 800-kilometre road connecting Yellowknife and Inuvik, as well as the Grays Bay Road and Port, a planned deep-water port on the Arctic Ocean.

“We’ve got the diamond mines winding down, Norman Wells down, and now people are saying, well, now what?” Simpson said in a video interview. “Now they can see what is next and there’s something big on the horizon.”

Regulatory Challenges Persist

The transition faces complications, including ongoing disputes between regulators and mining companies. The Northwest Territories regulator overseeing clean-up of the Ekati diamond mine recently reached a resolution with the mine’s receiver, PricewaterhouseCoopers, following accusations that the company dumped emulsion without proper authorization. Steps have been taken to resolve the dispute, though the incident highlights the regulatory complexities surrounding mine closures and environmental remediation in the region.

Simpson acknowledges that the territory felt neglected under previous Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, but the current federal attention represents a significant shift. The premier envisions ice breakers eventually allowing exports of liquefied natural gas to Asian markets, demonstrating the potential for diversified economic development. The sudden focus on Arctic security and natural resources arrives at a critical moment for the Northwest Territories, offering potential pathways forward as traditional industries contract and new opportunities emerge in critical mineral extraction and strategic infrastructure development.