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frowny face

Trish found this small critter among the fascinating pebbles of Sunset Beach. Here is her wonderful shot of it in Julie's hand.

Cape May Diamonds were first discovered by the Kechemeche Indians, part of the Lenni-Lenape Council, blood affiliates of the Algonquin Nation. They were found, according to information provided by Sunset Beach Gift Shop, which sells the diamonds in every shape and form, in limited areas around Delaware Bay. The translucent gems were held in high esteem by the Kechemeche “who attached mystical powers and a sacred trust to their possession.” They believed the curious stones possessed supernatural powers, “influencing the success, well-being and good fortune of the possessor.”

Larger, flawless stones were often given as a token to seal the bonds of friendship. One such stone was presented to early Cape May settler Christopher Leaming by King Nummy, the last chief of the Lenni-Lenape. Chief Nummy received the stone from the Kechemeche as tribute to the leader and as a sign of their faithfulness and loyalty. Leaming, in turn, sent the stone back to Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, to be cut and polished into a finished gem.

So what is a Cape May Diamond, really? They are pure quartz crystals, a common mineral. The crystals wash up on shore and gleam in a variety of colors in the sand like diamond pebbles. The source of the Cape May Diamond is the upper reaches of the Delaware River – 200 miles upstream. For thousands of years the quartz deposits are battered by river’s swift waters. Once the crystals reach the ocean they begin their journey here. Another thousand or so years goes by and then they reach the mouth of the Delaware Bay, which is 17 miles across, where they are swiftly propelled. This turbulence comes about because although the mouth of the bay is 17 miles across, the belly of the bay is 26 miles across, causing “a strong flow on both the outgoing and incoming tides.”

The strong current tumbles the quartz pebbles ashore. The larger stones wash ashore mostly during the winter months with the stronger current. The folks at Sunset Beach report hearing about “diamonds” as big as eggs. And once polished, finished and mounted, they rank as one of the area’s best selling items. But, no worries, you can find your own with a little patience. When you go out to Sunset Beach, you’ll see people combing the sand for the sparkly pebbles.

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Taken on: April 23, 2007

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Sets appears in: • bellies • Cape May, April 2007

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Camera: Canon PowerShot S2 IS, f/8.0, 1/400 sec, 6mm (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon PowerShot S2 IS
Aperture:	f/8.0
Exposure Time:	0.003 sec (1/400)
Focal Length:	6mm
Exposure Bias:	-1 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Metering Mode:	Center-weighted average
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	QuickTime 7.1.5
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