Earlier this week, I shared an article about Sterling Hill Mining Museum in Ogdensburg, New Jersey. A fan favorite, many of you wanted to know more about the state’s mining history. Here are a few interesting facts about our mining past:

Mining in New Jersey dates back to the 1600s when Dutch settlers mined copper along the Delaware River in Warren County.

Today, there are over 500 mines in New Jersey, all abandoned. While fascinating, some experts believe they pose a risk. They can be hard to find, poorly mapped, narrow, and face the potential of collapsing.

Nearly 92 percent of the state’s mines collected iron. Two of our most famous mines (Sterling Hill and Franklin) primarily collected zinc.

The New Jersey Zinc Company was once Sussex County’s largest employer.

Franklin Zinc was so valuable during WWII (it was used for brass shell casings) that the area was guarded by the U.S. military.

372 different minerals have been found in and around Franklin and Ogdensburg. Of those minerals, 19 have been found nowhere else on earth.

The biggest fluorescent rock in the world comes from Sterling Hill Mine and is on display at the American Museum of Natural History. The rock measures 19 feet by 9 feet and weighs around 22 tons.

New Jersey’s mining era peaked in the 1880s. The state’s final remaining mine (Sterling Hill) closed in 1986. The last iron mine (Mount Hope Mine) closed for good in 1977.

While facts may be fun, the photos below add to the history.

Franklin Furnace, 1900
Detroit Publishing Co./Wikipedia
This mine is known for its rare zinc deposits and over 300 fluorescent minerals.
Sterling Hill Mine, 1960s
Sterling Hill Mining Museum/Facebook
A former zinc and iron mine that closed in the 1980s and became a museum soon after.
Sterling Hill Miners
Sterling Hill Mining Museum/Facebook
Are you familiar with any of these gentlemen?

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Mining equipment at Sterling Hill Mine.
Sterling Hill Mining Museum/Facebook
You may recognize this as a mine car. They were used to transport minerals out of the mine.
Sterling Hill Mine, 1963
Sterling Hill Mining Museum/Facebook
This color photo helps bring the past to life.
Miner operating a drill at Franklin Mine.
Franklin Mineral Museum/Facebook
It's called a Stoper Drill.

To learn more about our state’s mining history, I highly recommend you visit the Sterling Hill Mining Museum AND Franklin Mineral Museum. See both in a single day trip. You can mine for minerals, enjoy unique mine and replica mine tours, see unique fluorescent specimens, and more. These are two of Sussex County’s best attractions!

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