Rockhounding in Sussex County, New Jersey
6 mapped rockhounding spots in Sussex County. Most commonly produces fluorite, willemite, corundum, franklinite.
Sussex County rockhounding photos
Representative spot and material photos from this county, shown where verified public image records are available.
Map showing 6 rockhounding spots in Sussex County, New Jersey
Standouts in Sussex County
Hand-picked spots in Sussex County, chosen for unusual mineralogy or documented public access. Each card opens the full coordinates and access notes.
Top pickFranklin
PublicSussex County
Franklin is called the Fluorescent Mineral Capital of the World, and its Buckwheat Dump is where visitors can still collect the glowing willemite, calcite, and franklinite that made the district famous. The ore body formed in Precambrian Franklin Marble under extreme heat and pressure, producing the richest mineral-species diversity of any locality on Earth, more than 350 species. Under shortwave ultraviolet light the finds glow green and red.
Epidote, Pyrite, Fluorite
Top pickFranklin-Ogdensburg-Sterling Hill mining district
PublicSussex County
Sterling Hill in Ogdensburg is the twin of the Franklin deposit and the last of the district's zinc mines to close, now preserved as a mining museum. Its Mine Run Dump is open for fee collecting, yielding fluorescent willemite and calcite along with franklinite and zincite from the same Precambrian Franklin Marble ore body. Zincite and franklinite were first described as mineral species from this district.
Willemite, Zincite, Calcite, Fluorite
Spots in Sussex County
| Spot | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| FranklinN. Church Road | 41.1202, -74.5930 | Public | |
| Franklin (minerals)Cork Hill Road | 41.1008, -74.5931 | Public | |
| Franklin FurnaceBuckwheat Road | 41.1163, -74.5873 | Public | |
| Franklin-Ogdensburg-Sterling Hill mining districtPlant Street | 41.0835, -74.6053 | Public | |
| SpartaBenham Way | 41.0562, -74.6748 | Public | |
| Sulphur Hill MineLimecrest Road |
| 41.0072, -74.7334 | Public |
Neighboring counties in New Jersey
Adjacent rockhounding counties, ranked by how close their centroids sit to Sussex County. A natural extension if Sussex County is already on your trip plan.
- Morris County~14 mi11 spotsTop: Pyrite, Apatite, Chalcopyrite
- Passaic County~21 mi5 spotsTop: Calcite, Datolite, Goethite
- Somerset County~37 mi9 spotsTop: Quartz, Agate, Prehnite
- Hudson County~38 mi4 spotsTop: Amethyst, Common Opal, Fire Opal
- Hunterdon County~46 mi5 spotsTop: Axinite, Datolite, Actinolite
- Mercer County~55 mi5 spotsTop: Calcite, Amber, Axinite
Across the state line from Sussex County
Rockhounding counties in neighboring states within driving range. Geology rarely respects state borders — these are often the closest mapped spots you can reach without going deeper into New Jersey.
- Orange County~28 miNew York · 5 spotsTop: Bloodstone, Arsenopyrite, Blue Corundum
- Monroe County~36 miPennsylvania · 3 spotsTop: Quartz, Agatized Coral, Azurite
- Bucks County~62 miPennsylvania · 6 spotsTop: Petrified Wood, Jasper, Agate
- Western Connecticut Planning Region~62 miConnecticut · 6 spotsTop: Graphite, Quartz, Aquamarine
Sussex County FAQ
Where can I rockhound in Sussex County, New Jersey?+
What rocks and minerals are common in Sussex County?+
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