Bryan Davis Minerals

All I can say is "WOW" on this Nick Zipco Hardystonite. What a great deal and a service to us collectors on a recession budget. If there is anything you need from these neck of the woods (CA) don't hasitate to e-mail me. Thanks again Bryan.

Hi, I collect NJ minerals also, primarily traprock minerals from Paterson, Millington and everywhere in-between. Are you getting into Jim Vandeveer's collection? What other collectors have you bought from? I have been getting stuff from Bob Batic's, Jim Vandeveer's, and Chris Laskowitch's collections as well as Robert Drift and others.

Diana,

From Manalapan I would say the closest clubs to you would be DVESS (delaware valley earth science society, which meets near Trenton, I think), and the Morris Museum Mineralogical Society which meets in the Morris Museum in Morristown. You may also want to check out the PA clubs I mentioned a few posts down for Crystal. I know DVESS used to do a lot of trips (I am not sure if they still do), I don't recall the Morris club going on any trips the year I was a member, which is why I let my membership lapse... However, if you are not aware, you are right near Big Brook in Holmdel. Google it! You can screen for fossil sharks teeth, marine fossils, antiques, arrowheads, etc. I have never been there, but this Saturday the North Jersey Mineralogical Society (NoJMS) is running a trip there. I bet if you just showed up they would be happy to have you collect with them, and could give you information about the club also. You need some sort of sifting screen to make collecting easier. I am a member of NoJMS, but I unfortunately can't make it to the trip this weekend. The NoJMS club is one of my favorites, and they try to run trips as often as possible... Hope this helps.
Bryan

[Diana]
Bryan,
I am so excited to find your website...

Bryan,
I am so excited to find your website. I am originally from Toledo, Ohio and before I moved here I was active with my mom in the local club for a few years. When I go home to visit, I visit the club but have had a hord time finding something similar near where I live. As I have more time now I am wanting to start field collecting, I have bought books and guides, very little is said on NJ in these guides. I am mostly into crystals and fossils and like gettting my hands dirty. I understand your comment on clubs having difficulty taking trips. I live in Manalapan, NJ. Any suggestions on clubs or smaller groubs I could get into contact with? I would really appreciate it!
Diana McDonald

Mike,

It really is a blessing to be a mineral collector in such a rich (and diverse!) state.

Mike M says...
I've been all over the country collecting, I had no idea New Jersey was so rich in minerals.

Crystal,

One of my personal favorite areas to collect is the Franklin/Sterling Hill area. There are a wide variety of fluorescent minerals that make great specimens, and can be cabbed also. I know there are many people who make cabochons and spheres and many other things with the fluorescent minerals. However, getting into fluorescent collecting adds a whole new aspect to collecting, because you will need to purchase a UV lamp, and your specimens will need to be in a dark place to show them properly?
My other favorite quarry is in Prospect Park. However, this is an operating quarry, and you have to go in with a club, and I am not sure any clubs are still getting in?
Closer to you is Big Brook, where you can find sharks teeth and other marine fossils, as well as arrowheads. You can Google Big Brook; it?s in Holmdel, NJ. There is also a creek in Oreland PA where you can find goethite. Google Oreland PA Goethite, and you should find an article about it with photos. I have never been to either of these places, but have heard from people who had good luck at both.
There are not many places that you can collect ?crystal? type minerals without going on a club trip (at least in northern New Jersey, which is the area I am familiar with). You may want to join some New Jersey or Pennsylvania mineral clubs. In fact the Delaware Valley Earth Science Society is near you, and I think they run trips in the area. You might also consider the Berks mineral club and PESA (Pennsylvania earth science association?) I have heard that both are pretty active collecting clubs. Most of the time you do not need to go to club meetings to be able to go on the trips.
You can also check out the Montague Quartz link on my links page, which is a great site for quartz.
So to answer your question? Franklin/Sterling Hill, and Prospect Park are my favorites. However, I only concentrate on New Jersey minerals; there may also be great opportunities for Pennsylvania minerals which are not too far from you.
Bryan



[crystal bonner]
hi i live in south jersey ...

hi i live in south jersey bellmawr to be precise. there's not much rockhounding in the camden area. anyway my question is i'm trying to plan a couple day trips that are within an hour or 2 drive, hopefully free secluded sites, and places that i can yeild a nice personal amount. i've been mining and collecting, selling, buying, trading, carving, cabbing, etc. seriously for a few years now. i'm really getting into carvable stone, but i love the luster of a shiny specimen as well. sorry i got side tracked. back to the question part of things. i only have limited access to a vehicle so i want to make these trips count. if you had to pick a few favorites what would you suggest? my boyfriend is now interested as well and he is a beginnner so i'd like to show him some places that will stand out a little more for identification sake. thanks for your time, crystal

I've been all over the country collecting, I had no idea New Jersey was so rich in minerals.

hey great website im developing a website to hopefully sell and trade minerals at ausrocks.webs.com/ this website has given me some great tips really good site