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Millington Quarry (Morris County Crushed Stone Co. Quarry; Tilcon Quarry), Bernards Township, Somerset Co., New Jersey, USA

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Amygdaloidal cavities in the Hook Mountain (Third Watchung) basalt. Quarrying began in 1895, and continued on and off, until the early 1970's. After a period of inactivity, the quarry restarted in 1979. The quarry was mined aggressively producing over 1 million tons/year in many years. From the middle of the 1980's, until early 2007, mineral specimens were found in abundance. The mineralized zone has now been removed, and the pit is currently being refilled with trucked in rock and dirt, for a future housing development.

The Millington Quarry was, scientifically, one of the most interesting of the basalt quarries in the region. Cummings (1985) described how mineral deposition was zoned vertically within amygdaloidal horizons. Subsequent to this publication it became apparent that secondary minerals at Millington (and also at the Chimney Rock Quarry) also exhibited other distinct distribution patterns (Cummings, 1988, 1998) These patterns were directly related to the varying porosity, hydraulic conductivity and glass content of the basalt and the distance of the deposition site from the fluid source in the sediments. They provided strong evidence that mineral deposition did not occur in a stagnant, burial metamorphic environment but resulted from actively circulating fluids moveing upward, out of the sediments and through the basalts.

Refs.:

Becker, M. (1998) Recent Mineral Finds at the Millington Quarry, Somerset County, New Jersey. Rocks & Minerals, 73:320-24.

Cummings, W. (1985) Mineralization at the Millington Quarry, New Jersey. Rocks & Minerals, 60:213-18.

Cummings, W. L., 1988, The Role of Sedimentary Connate Brines in the Mineralization of the Watchung Basalts: In Husch, J.M. and Hozik, M.J., Eds., Geology of the Central Newark Basin, Field Guide and Proceedings, Geological Association of New Jersey, fifth Annual Meeting, Pg. 135 – 147.

Cummings, W. L., 1998, Geology of the Chimney Rock Copper Occurrence, A Deposit Typical of the Watchung Basalts: In Puffer, J.H. Ed., The Economic Geology of Central New Jersey, Field Guide and Proceedings, Geological Association of New Jersey, fifteenth Annual Meeting, Pg. 29 – 49.

Cummings, W. (1999) Letters to the Editor, Millington Quarry. Rocks & Minerals, 74:149.

Kent, B.P. and Butkowski, B. (2000) Minerals of the Millington Quarry, Somerset County, New Jersey. Mineralogical Record, 31:399-411.

Maertens, J. (2007) Collecting Minerals at Tilcon's Millington Quarry. The Tilcon Times, Summer:9-10,26.

Manchester, J.G. (1931) The Minerals of New York City and Its Environs. New York Mineralogical Club Bulletin, 3:81.

Mineral Industry of New Jersey (1926):9.

Tschernich, R. (1992) Zeolites of the World, 67 p.

Wilson, W. (2007) Millington New Jersey. Mineralogical Record, 38:230-32.






 Map Reference: 40°40'N , 74°31'W

This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.



Mineral List:
  		•  Actinolite
    ☐Ca
     
    2
    		(Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		)
     
    5
    		(Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    22
    		)(OH)
     
    2
    Reference: [Maertens, J. (2007) Collecting Minerals at Tilcon's Millington Quarry. The Tilcon Times, Summer:10.]
  		•  Aerinite
    Ca
     
    5
    		(Fe
    3+
     
    		,Al,Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mg)(Al,Mg)
     
    6
    		[HSi
     
    12
    		O
     
    36
    		(OH)
     
    12
    		][(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    1.2
    		(H
     
    2
    		O)
     
    12
    		]
    Reference: [Maertens, J. (2007) Collecting Minerals at Tilcon's Millington Quarry. The Tilcon Times, Summer:10.]
  		•  Albite
    Na[AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    Reference: [The Minerals of New York City & Its Environs, New York Mineralogical Club Bull. Vol. 3, No. 1, Manchester, J.G. (1931): 81.]
  		•  Almandine
    Fe
    2+
    3
    		Al
     
    2
    		[SiO
     
    4
    		]
     
    3
    Reference: [Maertens, J. (2007) Collecting Minerals at Tilcon's Millington Quarry. The Tilcon Times, Summer:10.]
  		•  Analcime
    Na
     
    2
    		[Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    4
    		O
     
    12
    		] · 2H
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [Kent, B.P. and Butkowski, B. (2000): Minerals of the Millington Quarry, Somerset County, New Jersey, Mineralogical Record: 31(5):411.; American Mineralogist (1929) 14: 309-311]
    Site Photo
    Millington Quarry (Morris County Crushed Stone Co. Quarry; Tilcon Quarry), Bernards Township, Somerset Co., New Jersey, USA
    © 2007 FAI III
  		•  Anhydrite
    CaSO
     
    4
    Reference: [Cummings, W. (1985): Mineralization at the Millington Quarry, New Jersey, Rocks & Minerals 60:216.]
    Site Photo
    Millington Quarry (Morris County Crushed Stone Co. Quarry; Tilcon Quarry), Bernards Township, Somerset Co., New Jersey, USA
    © 2009, JGW
  		•  'Apophyllite'
    Reference: []
    Site Photo
    Millington Quarry (Morris County Crushed Stone Co. Quarry; Tilcon Quarry), Bernards Township, Somerset Co., New Jersey, USA
    © EAS 2008
  		•  Apophyllite-(KF)
    KCa
     
    4
    		[(F,OH)|Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    20
    		] · 8H
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [Kent, B.P. and Butkowski, B. (2000): Minerals of the Millington Quarry, Somerset County, New Jersey. Mineralogical Record, 31: 405]
    Site Photo
    Millington Quarry (Morris County Crushed Stone Co. Quarry; Tilcon Quarry), Bernards Township, Somerset Co., New Jersey, USA
    © 2007 FAI III
  		•  Augite
    (Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		,Al,Fe
    3+
     
    		,Ti)[(Si,Al)
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    		]
    Reference: [Maertens, J. (2007) Collecting Minerals at Tilcon's Millington Quarry. The Tilcon Times, Summer:10.]
  		•  Babingtonite
    Ca
     
    2
    		(Fe,Mn)FeSi
     
    5
    		O
     
    14
    		(OH)
    Reference: [Kent, B.P. and Butkowski, B. (2000): Minerals of the Millington Quarry, Somerset County, New Jersey. Mineralogical Record, 31: 411.]
  		•  Baryte
    BaSO
     
    4
    Habit: orthorhombic
    Colour: white
    Description: Found as isolated crystals on quartz.
    Reference: [Specimen collected by Frank Imbriacco.]
  		•  'Bitumen'
    Reference: [Kent, B.P. and Butkowski, B. (2000): Minerals of the Millington Quarry, Somerset County, New Jersey. Mineralogical Record, 31: 410.]
  		•  Calcite
    CaCO
     
    3
    Reference: [Kent, B.P. and Butkowski, B. (2000): Minerals of the Millington Quarry, Somerset County, New Jersey. Mineralogical Record, 31: 411.]
    Site Photo
    Millington Quarry (Morris County Crushed Stone Co. Quarry; Tilcon Quarry), Bernards Township, Somerset Co., New Jersey, USA
    © Geoffrey Krasnov
  		•  'Chabazite'
    Reference: [Kent, B.P. and Butkowski, B. (2000): Minerals of the Millington Quarry, Somerset County, New Jersey. Mineralogical Record, 31: 405.]
  		•  Chalcanthite
    CuSO
     
    4
    		·5H
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [Maertens, J. (2007) Collecting Minerals at Tilcon's Millington Quarry. The Tilcon Times, Summer:10.]
  		•  'Chalcedony'
    Reference: [Kent, B.P. and Butkowski, B. (2000): Minerals of the Millington Quarry, Somerset County, New Jersey. Mineralogical Record, 31: 410.]
  		•  'Chalcedony
    var: Agate'
    SiO
     
    2
    Reference: [The Minerals of New York City & Its Environs, New York Mineralogical Club Bull. Vol. 3, No. 1, Manchester, J.G. (1931): 81.]
  		•  Chalcopyrite
    CuFeS
     
    2
    Reference: [The Minerals of New York City & Its Environs, New York Mineralogical Club Bull. Vol. 3, No. 1, Manchester, J.G. (1931): 81.]
    Site Photo
    Millington Quarry (Morris County Crushed Stone Co. Quarry; Tilcon Quarry), Bernards Township, Somerset Co., New Jersey, USA
    © J.N. Wingard
  		•  Chamosite
    (Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mg)
     
    5
    		Al[(OH)
     
    8
    		|AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		]
    Reference: [Maertens, J. (2007) Collecting Minerals at Tilcon's Millington Quarry. The Tilcon Times, Summer:10.]
  		•  'Chlorite Group'
    Reference: [The Minerals of New York City & Its Environs, New York Mineralogical Club Bull. Vol. 3, No. 1, Manchester, J.G. (1931): 81.]
  		•  Clinochlore
    (Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		)
     
    5
    		Al[(OH)
     
    8
    		|AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		]
    Reference: [Kent, B.P. and Butkowski, B. (2000): Minerals of the Millington Quarry, Somerset County, New Jersey. Mineralogical Record, 31: 411.]
  		•  Datolite
    CaB[OH|SiO
     
    4
    		]
    Reference: [Kent, B.P. and Butkowski, B. (2000): Minerals of the Millington Quarry, Somerset County, New Jersey. Mineralogical Record, 31: 411.]
    Site Photo
    Millington Quarry (Morris County Crushed Stone Co. Quarry; Tilcon Quarry), Bernards Township, Somerset Co., New Jersey, USA
    © 2001 John H. Betts
  		•  Galena
    PbS
    Reference: [MinRecord 31:399]
  		•  Goethite
    α-Fe
    3+
     
    		O(OH)
    Reference: [Kent, B.P. and Butkowski, B. (2000): Minerals of the Millington Quarry, Somerset County, New Jersey. Mineralogical Record, 31: 411.]
  		•  Gypsum
    Ca[SO
     
    4
    		] · 2H
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [Kent, B.P. and Butkowski, B. (2000): Minerals of the Millington Quarry, Somerset County, New Jersey. Mineralogical Record, 31: 411.]
    Site Photo
    Millington Quarry (Morris County Crushed Stone Co. Quarry; Tilcon Quarry), Bernards Township, Somerset Co., New Jersey, USA
    © EAS 2008
  		•  Gypsum
    var: Selenite
    Reference: [Kent, B.P. and Butkowski, B. (2000): Minerals of the Millington Quarry, Somerset County, New Jersey. Mineralogical Record, 31: 411.]
    Site Photo
    Millington Quarry (Morris County Crushed Stone Co. Quarry; Tilcon Quarry), Bernards Township, Somerset Co., New Jersey, USA
    © J. N. Wingard
  		•  Hematite
    Fe
     
    2
    		O
     
    3
    Reference: [Kent, B.P. and Butkowski, B. (2000): Minerals of the Millington Quarry, Somerset County, New Jersey. Mineralogical Record, 31: 411.]
    Site Photo
    Millington Quarry (Morris County Crushed Stone Co. Quarry; Tilcon Quarry), Bernards Township, Somerset Co., New Jersey, USA
    © EAS 2009
  		•  'Heulandite'
    Reference: [Kent, B.P. and Butkowski, B. (2000): Minerals of the Millington Quarry, Somerset County, New Jersey. Mineralogical Record, 31: 411.]
  		•  Ilvaite
    CaFe
    2+
    2
    		Fe
    3+
     
    		[O|OH|Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    7
    		]
    Reference: [Kent, B.P. and Butkowski, B. (2000): Minerals of the Millington Quarry, Somerset County, New Jersey. Mineralogical Record, 31: 410.]
  		•  Magnesioriebeckite
    [ ][Na
     
    2
    		][Mg
     
    3
    		Fe
    3+
    2
    		][(OH)
     
    2
    		|Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    22
    		]
    Reference: [Maertens, J. (2007) Collecting Minerals at Tilcon's Millington Quarry. The Tilcon Times, Summer:10.]
  		•  Marialite
    Na
     
    4
    		[Cl|(AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    		)
     
    3
    		]
    Reference: [Maertens, J. (2007) Collecting Minerals at Tilcon's Millington Quarry. The Tilcon Times, Summer:10.]
  		•  Natrolite
    Na
     
    2
    		[Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		] · 2H
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [Kent, B.P. and Butkowski, B. (2000): Minerals of the Millington Quarry, Somerset County, New Jersey. Mineralogical Record, 31: 411.; American Mineralogist (1929) 14: 309-311]
    Site Photo
    Millington Quarry (Morris County Crushed Stone Co. Quarry; Tilcon Quarry), Bernards Township, Somerset Co., New Jersey, USA
    © 2007 FAI III
  		•  Nontronite
    Na
     
    0.3
    		Fe
     
    2
    		(Si,Al)
     
    4
    		O
     
    10
    		(OH)
     
    2
    		·nH
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [Maertens, J. (2007) Collecting Minerals at Tilcon's Millington Quarry. The Tilcon Times, Summer:10.]
  		•  Opal
    SiO
     
    2
    		·nH
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [Kent, B.P. and Butkowski, B. (2000): Minerals of the Millington Quarry, Somerset County, New Jersey. Mineralogical Record, 31: 411.]
  		•  Pectolite
    NaCa
     
    2
    		[HSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    9
    		]
    Reference: [Kent, B.P. and Butkowski, B. (2000): Minerals of the Millington Quarry, Somerset County, New Jersey. Mineralogical Record, 31: 411.]
    Site Photo
    Millington Quarry (Morris County Crushed Stone Co. Quarry; Tilcon Quarry), Bernards Township, Somerset Co., New Jersey, USA
    © 2009, JGW
  		•  Prehnite
    Ca
     
    2
    		Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    3
    		O
     
    12
    		(OH)
    Reference: [Kent, B.P. and Butkowski, B. (2000): Minerals of the Millington Quarry, Somerset County, New Jersey. Mineralogical Record, 31: 411.]
    Site Photo
    Millington Quarry (Morris County Crushed Stone Co. Quarry; Tilcon Quarry), Bernards Township, Somerset Co., New Jersey, USA
    © 2007 FAI III
  		•  Pyrite
    FeS
     
    2
    Reference: [Kent, B.P. and Butkowski, B. (2000): Minerals of the Millington Quarry, Somerset County, New Jersey. Mineralogical Record, 31: 411.]
    Site Photo
    Millington Quarry (Morris County Crushed Stone Co. Quarry; Tilcon Quarry), Bernards Township, Somerset Co., New Jersey, USA
    © Steve Stuart 2004
  		•  Pyrrhotite
    Fe
     
    7
    		S
     
    8
    		, (-4M), also given as Fe
     
    1-x
    		S (x = 0 - 0.2)
    Reference: [Kent, B.P. and Butkowski, B. (2000): Minerals of the Millington Quarry, Somerset County, New Jersey. Mineralogical Record, 31: 410.]
    Site Photo
    Millington Quarry (Morris County Crushed Stone Co. Quarry; Tilcon Quarry), Bernards Township, Somerset Co., New Jersey, USA
    © J. N. Wingard
  		•  Quartz
    SiO
     
    2
    Reference: [Kent, B.P. and Butkowski, B. (2000) Minerals of the Millington Quarry, Somerset County, New Jersey, Mineralogical Record: 31: 410.]
    Site Photo
    Millington Quarry (Morris County Crushed Stone Co. Quarry; Tilcon Quarry), Bernards Township, Somerset Co., New Jersey, USA
    © EAS 2009
  		•  Quartz
    var: Amethyst
    SiO
     
    2
    Reference: [Kent, B.P. and Butkowski, B. (2000): Minerals of the Millington Quarry, Somerset County, New Jersey, Mineralogical Record: 31(5):410.]
    Site Photo
    Millington Quarry (Morris County Crushed Stone Co. Quarry; Tilcon Quarry), Bernards Township, Somerset Co., New Jersey, USA
    © J. Wingard
  		•  Quartz
    var: Smoky Quartz
    SiO
     
    2
    Reference: [Kent, B.P. and Butkowski, B. (2000): Minerals of the Millington Quarry, Somerset County, New Jersey. Mineralogical Record, 31: 410.]
    Site Photo
    Millington Quarry (Morris County Crushed Stone Co. Quarry; Tilcon Quarry), Bernards Township, Somerset Co., New Jersey, USA
    © EAS 2008
  		•  Riebeckite
    [ ][Na
     
    2
    		][Fe
    2+
    3
    		Fe
    3+
    2
    		][(OH)
     
    2
    		|Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    22
    		]
    Reference: [Kent, B.P. and Butkowski, B. (2000): Minerals of the Millington Quarry, Somerset County, New Jersey. Mineralogical Record, 31: 410.]
  		•  Riebeckite
    var: Crocidolite
    Reference: [Maertens, J. (2007) Collecting Minerals at Tilcon's Millington Quarry. The Tilcon Times, Summer:10.]
  		•  Saponite
    Ca
     
    0.25
    		(Mg,Fe)
     
    3
    		(Si,Al)
     
    4
    		O
     
    10
    		(OH)
     
    2
    		·nH
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [Maertens, J. (2007) Collecting Minerals at Tilcon's Millington Quarry. The Tilcon Times, Summer:10.]
  		•  Sepiolite
    Mg
     
    4
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    15
    		(OH)
     
    2
    		·6H
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [Maertens, J. (2007) Collecting Minerals at Tilcon's Millington Quarry. The Tilcon Times, Summer:10.]
  		•  Sphalerite
    (Zn,Fe
    2+
     
    		)S
    Reference: [MinRecord 31:399]
    Site Photo
    Millington Quarry (Morris County Crushed Stone Co. Quarry; Tilcon Quarry), Bernards Township, Somerset Co., New Jersey, USA
    © 2007 FAI III
  		•  Stellerite
    Ca[Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    7
    		O
     
    18
    		] · 7H
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: []
    Site Photo
    Millington Quarry (Morris County Crushed Stone Co. Quarry; Tilcon Quarry), Bernards Township, Somerset Co., New Jersey, USA
    © 2007, JGW
  		•  'Stilbite'
    Reference: [Kent, B.P. and Butkowski, B. (2000): Minerals of the Millington Quarry, Somerset County, New Jersey. Mineralogical Record, 31: 411.]
    Site Photo
    Millington Quarry (Morris County Crushed Stone Co. Quarry; Tilcon Quarry), Bernards Township, Somerset Co., New Jersey, USA
    © 2003 John H. Betts
  		•  Stilbite-Ca
    NaCa
     
    4
    		[Al
     
    9
    		Si
     
    27
    		O
     
    72
    		] · nH
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [MinRecord 31:399]
  		•  Thomsonite-Ca
    NaCa
     
    2
    		[Al
     
    5
    		Si
     
    5
    		O
     
    20
    		] · 6H
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [Kent, B.P. and Butkowski, B. (2000): Minerals of the Millington Quarry, Somerset County, New Jersey. Mineralogical Record, 31: 411.]
  		•  Todorokite
    (Ca,K,Na,Mg,Ba,Mn)(Mn,Mg,Al)
     
    6
    		O
     
    12
    		·3H
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [Maertens, J. (2007) Collecting Minerals at Tilcon's Millington Quarry. The Tilcon Times, Summer:10.]


    51 entries listed. 39 valid minerals.

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