About this location
The specimen list here — agate, amethyst, carnelian, chalcedony, datolite, natrolite, common opal, fire opal — is a textbook match for New Jersey's trap-rock zeolite belt, the Jurassic basalt of the Watchung Mountains that has produced museum-grade datolite, natrolite, prehnite, and analcime since the 1800s.[2][3] But the coordinate attached to this location resolves to Soldier Hill Road in Paramus, a residential and commercial stretch of Bergen County with no documented quarry or trap-rock exposure.[Nominatim] The closest well-known match for this specimen list is the historic "Bergen Hill" locality, a set of railroad cuts in present-day Jersey City (Hudson County) roughly 10 miles southeast — a different place despite the similar name. Until this is corrected, don't treat the Paramus pin as a collecting site.
Always seek permission where required, follow local laws, and practice Leave No Trace. Locations and details are community-submitted and may be inaccurate. Not sure what's legal here? Read our full guide to rockhounding laws by land type.
Found Here
General zeolite-belt minerals documented in the wider region (not confirmed at this specific coordinate): datolite, natrolite, prehnite, analcime, stilbite, heulandite, and apophyllite in basalt vesicles and fractures; amethyst and agate/chalcedony banding in the same rock.[2][3] Fire opal and common opal are less commonly documented in this belt and are UNVERIFIED for this location specifically.
Difficulty
Getting there
UNVERIFIED at this coordinate. The Paramus location is suburban, built up, and shows no sign of quarry or outcrop access on mapping data.
Collecting here
Not applicable at the given pin. If this listing is meant to represent the broader NJ trap-rock zeolite belt, collecting historically happened via hand-tool work on quarry faces and dump piles — surface work, hammer and chisel for vug material.
Know before you go
Land status at this coordinate is unverified, and no quarry or public collecting ground is documented in Paramus itself. New Jersey's zeolite-producing quarries are almost all active industrial sites or closed and fenced; the only reliable legal access anywhere in this mineral belt is through organized field trips run by clubs like the New Jersey Mineralogical Society, not walk-up visits.[3]
Location on Map
Coordinates: 40.96535, -74.05417
Nearby rockhounding locations
- Prospect Park Quarry — Banded Agate, AmethystNJ · 6.5 mi
- The Palisades — Banded Agate, AlbiteNJ · 7.1 mi
- Haledon — Agate, DatoliteNJ · 7.6 mi
- Snake Hill — Banded Agate, AlbiteNJ · 14.4 mi
- Hudson River Tunnel — FossilNJ · 14.5 mi
- Hoboken — Agate, AmethystNJ · 14.9 mi
More Agate locations in New Jersey
Frequently asked questions
Can you collect zeolite minerals in Bergen County, New Jersey?
Not verifiably at this coordinate — it resolves to a residential Paramus street with no documented quarry. New Jersey's zeolite locality "Bergen Hill" is a different place, in Jersey City (Hudson County), not present-day Bergen County.
Where do New Jersey's datolite and natrolite specimens actually come from?
The Watchung Mountains trap-rock belt in Passaic, Essex, and Bergen counties, especially historic quarries around Great Notch and Garrett Mountain — almost all now closed to walk-up public access.[3]
Is public rockhounding access available anywhere in New Jersey's trap-rock belt?
Only through organized club field trips (e.g., New Jersey Mineralogical Society), which negotiate supervised access to active or closed quarries a few times a year.[3]
⚠️ Always verify current regulations, weather conditions, and access requirements before visiting any location. Information provided is based on community submissions and may not be current or accurate.
Sources
- Nominatim/OpenStreetMap reverse geocode of 40.96535, -74.05417 — resolves to Soldier Hill Road, Paramus, Bergen County, NJ
- WebSearch summary citing Rutgers NJGS Bulletin 64, "Trap Rock Minerals of New Jersey" (1960) — https://rucore.libraries.rutgers.edu/rutgers-lib/41154/PDF/1 — zeolite mineralogy of the Watchung basalt belt, Bergen Hill locality
- WebSearch summary on NJ trap-rock quarry access — access restrictions, club field-trip model
Recommended Gear for New Jersey
Estwing E3-22P Rock Pick
The industry-standard 22oz geological hammer. One-piece forged steel with shock-reduction grip.
Clear Anti-Fog Safety Glasses (4 Pack)
Adjustable, anti-fog lenses for clear vision in any conditions. About $5 per pair.
Watertight Medical Kit
Compact, waterproof first aid kit with bandages, moleskin, and field essentials.
National Audubon Society Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals
The classic pocket reference for identifying over 600 rocks and minerals in North America.
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