Buckwheat pit

Franklin Mine, Franklin, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA

Key Information

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The Buckwheat pit is in Franklin, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA, about 45 miles northwest of New York City, near the Pennsylvania and New York borders.
It is famous for zinc and iron ore minerals, including willemite, franklinite, and zincite, with many fluorescing under UV light.
The geological structure includes Franklin Marble and vuggy dolomite, formed in a northward-plunging syncline.
Mining started in 1866, expanded by the Taylor Mine, and ceased in 1954 when zinc ore was depleted; it's now a popular collecting site.
The area has a rich mining heritage, with the Franklin Mineral Museum preserving its history, and is known as the "Fluorescent Mineral Capital of the World."
The climate is temperate, but mineral formation is more tied to geological processes than current climate.

Geographic Location

Nestled in Franklin, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA, the Buckwheat pit lies approximately 45 miles northwest of New York City, in the northwestern part of the state, close to the borders with Pennsylvania and New York. This location places it in a region rich with mineral activity, with nearby famous localities like the Sterling Mine in Ogdensburg, also in Sussex County, offering additional exploration opportunities for enthusiasts.

Minerals Produced

The Buckwheat pit is part of the Franklin Mining District, renowned for over 350 confirmed mineral species, many of which fluoresce under ultraviolet light, earning Franklin the title "Fluorescent Mineral Capital of the World." Key minerals include zinc and iron ores such as willemite, franklinite, and zincite, with the dump site famous for rare finds like cuspidine and sphalerite, attracting collectors worldwide.

Geological Structure

The pit features a complex geological setup, incorporating zinc and iron ore veins within Franklin Marble, a late Ordovician lamprophyre dyke rock, and a lens-like body of vuggy dolomite known as Buckwheat Dolomite Marble, all formed in a northward-plunging syncline. These formations suggest a rich history of mineral crystallization driven by tectonic and metamorphic processes.

Mining History

Mining at the Buckwheat pit began in 1866, initially as an open pit, and was later expanded by the Taylor Mine using an aerial tramway, ceasing operations around 1912. Underground mining continued until 1954 when zinc ore was depleted. Today, the site, including the Buckwheat dump, is a favored spot for mineral collectors, with waste rock from the pit offering ongoing discoveries.

Local Culture and Characteristics

Franklin's mining heritage is a cornerstone of local identity, with the Franklin Mineral Museum, founded in 1964, preserving artifacts and specimens, showcasing its status as the "Fluorescent Mineral Capital of the World." The area also connects to historical figures like Thomas Edison, with mining-related items on display, reflecting its cultural significance.

Climate and Ecology

New Jersey's temperate climate, with warm summers and cold winters, supports the region's ecology, but the mineral formation at Buckwheat pit is primarily linked to geological processes rather than current climate conditions, emphasizing the area's ancient tectonic activity.