Friday, August 24, 2007

Jones Diamond

When I saw this post about the famous Jones diamond from southern West Virginia, I recalled that I pass the site twice per day. At the site, in Peterstown, WV, is the following official sign.
What really interested me was the statement that "due to its “carry impact marks” and the size of the stone it had probably been washed down the New River into Rich Creek from a source in Virginia, North Carolina or Tennessee." This location of this sign is about 2 miles from the New River. How did it travel so far upstream?

3 comments:

Dave Tabler said...

"It is believed that the diamond was actually from a source in Virginia, North Carolina or Tennessee and washed down the New River..." says the unattributed author of the November 1996 "Virginia Minerals" newsletter, publ. by Virginia's Division of Mineral Resources, on page 4.

My guess is the one who believed was Virginia Tech professor Holden, who made the statement about the "carry impact marks." He has nothing to say, however, about the 2 mile distance from the river to the Jones home.

Meantime Charles B. Motley, author of "Gleanings of Monroe County West Virginia History," says flat out "The Jones Diamond is a product of West Virginia" on page 122 of that book.

Steven said...

Well, everyone knows Rich Creek is the only creek in North America (and the world, for that matter), that flows uphill. I think it flows back to its source... the giant road-side concrete rooster that sits near the Giant grocery store and Dairy Queen. :D

Anonymous said...

You also have to remember that MY family held on to the diamond for 14 years before they even came out with having it...