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Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park: Fossil Hunting in Gloucester County, New Jersey

Updated July 2026

The Jean and Ric Edelman Fossil Park preserves a former marl quarry whose bone bed sits right at the 66-million-year-old end-Cretaceous extinction boundary. Its beds have produced more than 100,000 fossils across 100-plus species, including shark teeth, marine crocodiles, sea turtles, and mosasaurs. Run by Rowan University, it is the only active public community-dig fossil quarry east of the Mississippi. Reported finds include amber, fossils. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park photos

Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.

1 photo

Jean and Ric Edelman Fossil Park at Rowan University, viewed from the dig site and hiking trail overlook, in Mantua Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Gloucester County
State: New Jersey
Nearest road: Veterans Memorial Highway
Postcode: 08071
Coordinates: 39.76223, -75.12741

Geology at Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park

This spot sits on Lower Member of the Kirkwood Formation, mapped as clay and sand that formed roughly 23 to 16 million years ago. Reworked sediments like these can carry fossils eroded from older beds upstream, typically as rolled bone fragments, teeth, and shell material.

Mapped unit: Lower Member of the Kirkwood Formation
Age: 23–16 Ma (Early Miocene)
Rock types: clay and sand
Elevation: 50 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

Best time to visit Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park

Best months: March to December. Typical highs run 87°F in midsummer and 41°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 25°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, GLASSBORO 2 NE station (2 mi away).

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

Sources: RockHoundR public spot dataset, app land overlays, and local agency review before each trip.

Found at Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park.

Across the state line from Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park

Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park is close enough to the New Jersey border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park FAQ

Where is Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park?+

Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park is in Gloucester County, New Jersey, at 39.76223, -75.12741. Nearest road: Veterans Memorial Highway.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park?+

Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park is reported to produce Amber, Fossils.

Is collecting allowed at Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park?+

Generally open to casual rockhounding. Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park?+

A rock hammer, a cold chisel, safety glasses, and newspaper or foam for wrapping finds cover most fossil ground. A trowel and a sieve help in soft exposures.

When is the best time to visit Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park?+

The most comfortable months at Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park are March to December.

How do I get to Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 39.76223, -75.12741 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Veterans Memorial Highway.

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