Upcoming Events
Fowler Quarry Dig 2026
Call FOMS PHONE: 973-304-5504
Email: [email protected]
Dig Committee Co-Chairs: Dave Wellbrock and Eric Stroud
Site supervisor and lead coordinator: Dave Wellbrock
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Braen Franklin Quarry Saturday, April 18, 2026
Meet 8:30 a.m. at Braen Franklin Quarry, 280 Cork Hill Road, for sign-in.
Orientation at 8:45 a.m. All PPE required. No minors.
Members join or renew.
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General Meeting 1:30–3 p.m., members and public are invited
Franklin Mineral Museum, 32 Evans Street, Franklin, NJ 07416
(Museum will be open. Bathrooms are available. Any visit to mineral rooms inside the museum requires a day pass from FMM or an FMM membership.)
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Franklin Boro Resources
Early morning Franklin businesses:
Walmart, 230 State Route 23, Franklin, NJ
opens at 6 a.m., bathroom, shopping
McDonald’s, 260 Route 23, Franklin, NJ
opens at 6 a.m., bathroom, lobby, food
Starbucks, 111 Route 23, Franklin, NJ
opens at 5:30 a.m., bathroom, lobby, food
Media / Photos
Send all photos or links to [email protected] to make them available to FOMS, our Archive, and others. If you want to restrict the photos to FOMS and the Archive only, please indicate that. Add your name into the title of the photo, folder, or file.
Newsletter / Articles
Newsletter articles, photos, field notes, drawings, and videos related to your trip and to your collected items from Braen Franklin Quarry are welcome.
The Picking Table / Articles
If you want to write an article of significance regarding Braen Franklin Quarry, please send queries and submissions.
What is Braen Franklin Quarry?
An important quarry in the Franklin Marble and is also an important employer in the area. The quarry is now an essential source of crushed stone for road work and the general construction industry. It is located off Cork Hill Road, in the southern portion of Franklin borough, near the Ogdensburg line and between the two zinc orebodies. In the final years of the Sterling Mine’s operation, this quarry provided the fine marble aggregate used to backfill mined out areas in that mine. It now keeps its commonly used name as the Franklin Quarry. This locality is within the Franklin Mining District.
What Has Been Found at Braen Franklin Quarry? See mindat detailed tab; data from mindat and articles from The Picking Table. Braen Franklin Quarry, Franklin, NJ ⓘAlbite See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=106&minName=Albite no local images on mindat.org
ⓘAragonite See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=122&minName=Aragonite
ⓘArsenopyrite See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=125&minName=Arsenopyrite no local images on mindat.org
ⓘAzurite See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=133&minName=Azurite no local images on mindat.org
ⓘCalcite See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=156&minName=Calcite
ⓘChondrodite See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=172&minName=Chondrodite no local images on mindat.org
ⓘClinochlore See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=176&minName=Clinochlore no local images on mindat.org
ⓘCorundum See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=186&minName=Corundum
ⓘDiopside See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=198&minName=Diopside
ⓘDolomite See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=200&minName=Dolomite no local images on mindat.org
ⓘEdenite See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=206&minName=Edenite
ⓘFluoborite See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=219&minName=Fluoborite
ⓘFluorapatite See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=220&minName=Fluorapatite no local images on mindat.org
ⓘFluorite See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=222&minName=Fluorite
ⓘFluoro-pargasite See FOMSNJ.ORG links (none available) no local images on mindat.org
ⓘFluorophlogopite See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=467&minName=Fluorophlogopite
ⓘFluor-uvite (TL) See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=223&minName=Fluor-uvite
ⓘGalena See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=233&minName=Galena no local images on mindat.org
ⓘGoethite See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=241&minName=Goethite no local images on mindat.org
ⓘGraphite See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=245&minName=Graphite no local images on mindat.org
ⓘHematite See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=264&minName=Hematite
ⓘHercynite See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=267&minName=Hercynite no local images on mindat.org
ⓘMagnesio-hornblende See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=306&minName=Magnesio-hornblende no local images on mindat.org
ⓘMalachite See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=311&minName=Malachite no local images on mindat.org
ⓘMarcasite See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=318&minName=Marcasite no local images on mindat.org
ⓘMargarite See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=319&minName=Margarite
ⓘMeionite See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=325&minName=Meionite no local images on mindat.org
ⓘMicrocline See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=329&minName=Microcline no local images on mindat.org
ⓘMuscovite See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=337&minName=Muscovite no local images on mindat.org
ⓘNorbergite See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=346&minName=Norbergite
ⓘPargasite See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=357&minName=Pargasite
ⓘPhlogopite See FOMSNJ.ORG links: None available
ⓘPyrite See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=369&minName=Pyrite
ⓘPyrrhotite See FOMSNJ.ORG links: None available
ⓘQuartz See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=379&minName=Quartz
ⓘRutile See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=392&minName=Rutile
ⓘSphalerite See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=413&minName=Sphalerite
ⓘSpinel See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=414&minName=Spinel
ⓘTalc See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=426&minName=Talc
ⓘTitanite See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=435&minName=Titanite no local images on mindat.org
ⓘTourmaline See FOMSNJ.ORG links: None available
ⓘTremolite See FOMSNJ.ORG links https://www.fomsnj.org/mineral.aspx?minid=438&minName=Tremolite
Membership & Age Requirements
FOMS field trips are only open to members who have paid their dues in full for the current year. Age 13 is the minimum for some collecting; for working commercial quarries, the minimum age is 18. If you are new or renewing, make sure to check your membership far in advance with the dig chairman so that you can be cleared for insurance coverage. You must RSVP one month in advance and register for digs at least two weeks in advance.
Safety & Participation Guidelines
Proper field trip gear is required, including a hard hat, protective eyewear, gloves, and sturdy shoes. Be prepared for rough, rocky terrain, steep hills, underbrush, thorns and brambles, unexpected holes, mud, water, rain, cold, and heat. A whistle and charged phone (expect no cell signal, possibly) with emergency contacts are important. Bring water and all necessities. Black tarp and low- mid- and longwave UV lights for fluorescent minerals. Buckets, a backpack, etc. Consider a magnet or compass. Events take place unless there is a weather emergency. Please consider talking with us in advance if you are new or have not been to a location before. Federal guidelines must be met for working quarries, including certified composite or steel-toed boots, a safety vest, a hard hat, protective eyewear, gloves, etc. See the longer lists and paperwork for working quarries.
Our Events
Events For the Year 2025
Join the Franklin-Ogdensburg Mineralogical Society for exciting field trips, meetings, workshops, and mineral shows. Learn, collect, and connect with fellow rockhounds while exploring unique minerals and hands-on experiences.
FOMS Field Trip – Collecting at Fowler Quarry
FOMS Meetings and Digs – How to Collect Minerals in the Field
Attend meetings and join digs to learn collection tips to improve your rockhounding skills. Specific gravity, matrix, historical knowledge of the area?
Fall FOMS Sale in Franklin
Annual sale featuring minerals, rocks, and collectibles; perfect for enthusiasts and collectors of all ages.
FMM Night Digs on the Buckwheat Dump
Evening dig event supporting the museum; collect rare minerals among a group of enthusiasts and experts. Call FMM for site information. Contact FOMS phone 973-304-5504 about any group meetups beforehand, or ask any extra questions you think we may be able to answer.
FOMS Field Trip – Collecting at Braen Quarry
FOMS Meetings 2026
Expert presentations; a must-attend for UV rock enthusiasts and Franklin-Sterling minerals.
Events 2026
Events for the year 2026
Explore FOMS 2026 events, including digs / field trips, meetings, talks and mineral shows. Learn, collect, and connect with fellow rockhounds throughout the year. Trips/digs: *One month in advance RSVP. Requires two-week advance registration*
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