A 61 meter (203 feet) high pipe-like diabase intrusive, which is believed to be an offshoot of the nearby Palisades Sill. Mineralized shales and sandstones, intruded by the diabase, are visible in the north and southwest sections of the property. Minerals were found in veins in both the diabase and metamorphosed sediments. Quarrying took place from the late 1800s to the 1950s, when a section of the land was utilized as a prison (Penetentiary Quarry). In 1962 Hudson County finished closing their facilities on the site, which included the county prison and the insane asylum. The County entered into a 20 year contract with Callanan Industries to level much of the hill. In the 1960's and 70's Gallo Asphalt had 4 asphalt plants, side by side, adjacent to the quarry and supplied paving materials throughout the surrounding urban region. Production ended on schedual in 1982.
In the early 2000s, further blasting occurred along the New Jersey Turnpike. Most of the original 184 acre parcel is currently being utilized as a county park. (This site is also known as "Snake Hill.")
Refs.:
Facciolla, N. (1981) Minerals of Laurel Hill, Secaucus, New Jersey.
Manchester, J.G. (1931) The Minerals of New York City and Its Environs. New York Mineralogical Club Bulletin, 3:58-9.
Peacor, D.R. & Dunn, P.J. (1982) American Mineralogist, 67:1039-42.
Puffer, J. & Peters, J. (1974) Economic Geology. Magnetite Veins in Diabase of Laurel Hill, New Jersey, 69:1294-99.
Tschernich, R. (1992) Zeolites of the World, 66, 116 p.
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Map Reference: 40°45'36"N , 74°5'6"W
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