NJ official mineral: Franklinite, a zinc ore, earns status

Franklinite, an ore found practically nowhere on Earth but in the rich zinc deposits of Sussex County, is the official mineral of New Jersey.

Gov. Phil Murphy has signed a bill to designate it as such, bringing pride to geologists and historians who have worked for years to achieve that recognition.

The mineral, discovered in 1819, contributed greatly to the economic progress of the state and especially to the growth of the railroad industry.

“By designating franklinite as the official state mineral,” Murphy said in a statement last week, “we celebrate yet another quintessentially Jersey piece of history.”

Legislators who sponsored the bill said franklinite is as unique to New Jersey as the Pine Barrens and that it is a “critical link” to the state’s mining heritage.

Jeffrey Hoffman, the state geologist, said the world’s largest accumulations of franklinite were found in the orebodies of the Franklin Mine and the Sterling Hill Mine in Ogdensburg, the latter of which was the last working mine in New Jersey when it ceased operations in March 1986.

It is exceedingly rare to find it anyplace else.

According to the Franklin-Ogdensburg Mineralogical Society Inc., the best-documented occurrences are those in Långban, Sweden.

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William Kroth, the executive director and president of the Sterling Hill Mining Museum Inc., said the nonprofit looks forward to building on the recognition of franklinite in its outreach to visitors who tour the tunnels there each day.

The mineral can fetch thousands of dollars. For example, a “nearly perfect” specimen is for sale for $9,500 by a Texas-based gem dealer.

In June 1974, then-Gov. Brendan Byrne signed a bill to designate the honeybee as the state’s official bug. Lawmakers were urged to do so by students from an elementary school in Hamilton Township. Here is a short list of other things that are “quintessentially Jersey,” per the state’s website.

Philip DeVencentis is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

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