Natrolite ''cast'' after Anhydrite with Prehnite and Calcite (ex Ken McKim Collection)

Item Description

The quarry at Upper New Street is over 100 years old (it opened in 1893). During the mid 1980's to early 1990's, there was a lot of collecting that took place between the Upper New Street and Lower Street Quarries in an area that is affectionately referred to by some as "Middle New Street". The majority of the specimens from this area are still labeled as being found at Upper New Street even though they were not found in the quarry itself. Nonetheless, this is one of the most famous Trap Rock quarries in New Jersey and is probably most famous for its amazing and unique Prehnite casts after Anhydrite (sometimes called "fingers" or "snakeheads"). This specimen features a different kind of cast as there is a radial "spray" of white to pinkish-brown colored Natrolite which has a distinct "flat" spot on one side where a crystal of Anhydrite once existed, but was subsequently dissolved away. Additionally you can see small spherical groups of soft green colored Prehnite and minor grey Calcite rhombs sitting on the basalt matrix. A nice Trap Rock associated specimen from this significant New Jersey locality. From the collection of Ken McKim.