Natrolite with Prehnite casts after Anhydrite

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"). Natrolite is one of the less common species found at UNS, and good quality specimens are even less common. This particular specimen consists of thin prisms of Natrolite with a slight "cat's eye" effect, which may be a tranisition into another species such as Mesolite or Scolecite. The Natrolite is sitting on lovely green Prehnite which have formed casts after preexisting Anhydrite. For all intents and purposes this is a relatively rare Zeolite specimen from New Jersey.