Big Brook Park — Rockhounding in Monmouth County, New Jersey
Big Brook is New Jersey's best known free fossil stream, cutting Late Cretaceous marine beds of the Navesink Formation that are roughly 70 million years old. Collectors regularly find shark teeth (Squalicorax and Cretolamna), belemnite guards of Belemnitella americana, and Exogyra oyster shells weathering out of the streambed. Monmouth County manages it as public parkland with published fossil-collecting rules, which is rare for an East Coast site. Reported finds include shark teeth, belemnite, fossils. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Big Brook Park photos
Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.
Map showing Big Brook Park in Monmouth County, New Jersey
Quick details
- Access
- Public area
- County
- Monmouth County
- State
- New Jersey
- Nearest road
- Boundary Road
- Postcode
- 07746
- Coordinates
- 40.30600, -74.25600
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 Big Brook Park
Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.
- Shark TeethEncyclopedia →
- BelemniteEncyclopedia →
- FossilsEncyclopedia →
Nearby rockhounding spots
Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Big Brook Park.
- Ramanessin BrookTop pick in New JerseyMonmouth County, New Jersey · 6 mi awayShark Teeth, Fossils
- Poricy Park Fossil BedsTop pick in New JerseyMonmouth County, New Jersey · 9 mi awayBelemnite, Shark Teeth, Fossils
- SayrevilleMiddlesex County, New Jersey · 10 mi awayMarcasite, Pyrite, Petrified Wood
- Shark RiverTop pick in New JerseyMonmouth County, New Jersey · 12 mi awayShark Teeth, Fossils
- Long BranchMonmouth County, New Jersey · 15 mi awayQuartz
- ManasquanMonmouth County, New Jersey · 18 mi awayQuartz, Fossils, Petrified Wood
- KingstonSomerset County, New Jersey · 20 mi awayAgate, Prehnite, Quartz
- Rock Hill QuarrySomerset County, New Jersey · 20 mi awayAlbite, Chalcocite, Chrysocolla
Across the state line from Big Brook Park
Big Brook 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.
- MorrisvilleBucks County, Pennsylvania · 28 mi awayJasper
- NewtownBucks County, Pennsylvania · 38 mi awayJasper, Petrified Wood
- FeastervilleBucks County, Pennsylvania · 38 mi awaySunstone, Agate, Feldspar
- Maple GlenBucks County, Pennsylvania · 45 mi awayPetrified Wood
- Bucks CountyBucks County, Pennsylvania · 45 mi awayPetrified Wood
- EurekaBucks County, Pennsylvania · 49 mi awaySmoky Quartz
Big Brook Park FAQ
Why is Big Brook Park one of the best rockhounding spots in New Jersey?+
Where is Big Brook Park?+
What rocks and minerals can you find at Big Brook Park?+
Is collecting allowed at Big Brook Park?+
How do I get to Big Brook Park?+
More rockhounding in New Jersey
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