Sussex County History Today: Our Unique Mineral Makeup

One of the three historic markers awarded final yr (2021) was for the Parker Shaft, representing the mine and plant by the identical identify. The marker was simply mounted by Sussex County and is positioned on the precise location the place the plant stood. This is within the parking zone space of the Franklin Fire Department. The many members of the mineral accumulating “rock hound” group is worked up and searching ahead to a celebration within the close to future. Much of the next is written by Ralph Bonard, president of the Franklin Ogdensburg Mineralogical Society (FOMS). Bonard supported the applying for the Parker Shaft marker. Sussex County has a really wealthy mining historical past courting again to the 1700s when the Dutch first mined right here for copper. As the years handed, nice iron ore deposits have been found within the hills of Sussex County and mines sprung up throughout the land. In Franklin Furnace, iron mining was large enterprise. There have been a number of mines round city and at Franklin Pond stood an enormous iron furnace and millworks. As iron mining started to dwindle, one other steel was found in Franklin — zinc. Zinc was discovered within the type of zincite, Franklinite, and willemite. These have been present in such abundance that Franklin and Sterling turned the best zinc deposit on Earth. But that wasn’t all. The Franklin Mine is without doubt one of the most geologically vital mineral deposits on Earth. Geologists, mineralogists, and scientists from all over the world have lengthy studied the ore physique and mineral deposits positioned right here. Collectors from all over the world go to nice lengths to acquire specimens from this locale. Some of the rarest and most treasured minerals have been found right here within the Parker Shaft. First mined round 1897, the Parker Shaft was one of many first enhancements with the good consolidation of mining corporations to kind the NJ Zinc Co in 1897. The shaft was sunk to a stage of 975 toes and was deserted by 1910 when the a lot bigger and extra succesful Palmer Shaft and Mill started full operation 1 / 4 mile west of the Parker complicated. Still seen within the southwest nook of the fireplace division parking zone is the concrete cap that covers the Parker Shaft. The minerals which might be wanted by collectors right now are what have been usually thought of waste rock to the mining firm. Much of that waste rock was used as fill to construct roads and foundations and far of it was used to backfill the mine. Every now and again, a collector will uncover one among these rarities whereas accumulating. Many of those minerals are fluorescent underneath a UV mild and fluoresce in crimson, inexperienced, yellow, white, blue, orange, and lots of shades in between! To see the very best examples of those minerals that have been mined proper underneath our toes, all one has to do is go to the Franklin Mineral Museum or the Sterling Hill Mining Museum. They each have an impressive assortment to see! I’d encourage anybody that’s to turn out to be a member at each museums and should you’re thinking about studying much more about this wonderful mineral locality be a part of the FOMS. We particularly encourage mother and father to get kids concerned and we have now applications geared in direction of instructing kids about not solely the minerals we have now right here however minerals and geology from all over the world. For extra info please go to: fomsnj.org, franklinmineralmuseum.com, sterlinghillminingmuseum.org. Thanks to Ralph Bonard for his excellent description and I additionally encourage Sussex County residents to view the location and the Mineral Museum and the Sterling Hill Mining Museum.

https://www.spartaindependent.com/opinion/columns/sussex-county-history-today-our-unique-mineral-makeup-BB2201939