Best spot

Ramanessin Brook: Fossil Hunting in Monmouth County, New Jersey

Updated July 2026

Ramanessin Brook is a quieter alternative to Big Brook and Poricy, draining the same Late Cretaceous Monmouth Group marine sequence in Holmdel. Sifting its gravel bars turns up shark teeth (Squalicorax and Scapanorhynchus), ray denticles, and fish material weathered from beds roughly 70 million years old. It runs through township open space, and the Friends of Holmdel Open Space run free public fossil walks along it. Reported finds include shark teeth, fossils. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Ramanessin Brook photos

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

1 photo

The Steeplechase Trail in the Ramanessin section of Holmdel Park, Monmouth County, New Jersey

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Monmouth County
State: New Jersey
Nearest road: McCampbell Road
Postcode: 07733
Coordinates: 40.37200, -74.18300

Geology at Ramanessin Brook

This spot sits on Sandy Hook Member of the Red Bank Formation, mapped as sand that formed roughly 72 to 66 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: Sandy Hook Member of the Red Bank Formation
Age: 72–66 Ma (Late Cretaceous)
Rock types: sand
Elevation: 180 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 Ramanessin Brook

Best months: March to December. Typical highs run 87°F in midsummer and 42°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 23°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, FREEHOLD-MARLBORO station (5 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 Ramanessin Brook

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 Ramanessin Brook.

Across the state line from Ramanessin Brook

Ramanessin Brook 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.

Ramanessin Brook FAQ

Where is Ramanessin Brook?+

Ramanessin Brook is in Monmouth County, New Jersey, at 40.37200, -74.18300. Nearest road: McCampbell Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Ramanessin Brook?+

Ramanessin Brook is reported to produce Shark Teeth, Fossils.

Is collecting allowed at Ramanessin Brook?+

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 Ramanessin Brook?+

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 Ramanessin Brook?+

The most comfortable months at Ramanessin Brook are March to December.

How do I get to Ramanessin Brook?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 40.37200, -74.18300 in Google Maps. The nearest road is McCampbell Road.

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