This past Wednesday, I traveled to north Jersey, right below the NY border to the Sterling Hill Mine.
I was nervously anticipating the trip, not sure what to expect since this was my first visit to a mine ever. It was eye opening to say the least. Though this mine has been inactive since 1986, safety was the focus of the tour. Did you know women were considered bad luck and not even allowed into mines until into the 70s?? When my professor was a grad student, she had to wait outside until the boys were done. Now that's some bullshit.
Miners had it rough. In some areas, life expectancy was only 36 year old. Something to think about. Everything that isn't biological that you own is made of things that needed to be mined from the earth. All of the minerals and crystals that you covet are mined and used commercially for things you wouldn't ever guess. It all comes from somewhere.
This mine in particular was after franklinite, mined mainly for its zinc, but also its manganese. Thanks to its abundance in this area, Franklin, NJ deemed themselves "The Fluorescent Mineral Capital of the World." And that's really the coolest part about franklinite, its fluorescence.
Miners had it rough. In some areas, life expectancy was only 36 year old. Something to think about. Everything that isn't biological that you own is made of things that needed to be mined from the earth. All of the minerals and crystals that you covet are mined and used commercially for things you wouldn't ever guess. It all comes from somewhere.
This mine in particular was after franklinite, mined mainly for its zinc, but also its manganese. Thanks to its abundance in this area, Franklin, NJ deemed themselves "The Fluorescent Mineral Capital of the World." And that's really the coolest part about franklinite, its fluorescence.
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Name: franklinite
Chemical Formula: (Zn,Mn2+,Fe2+)(Fe3+,Mn3+)2O4
Group Classification: oxide
General Info: Franklinite (black/fluoresces green) is often found with zincite (reddish/brown), willemite (green), and calcite (white/fluoresces red). bound by regional metamorphism.
Identifying Properties:
Typical Uses: Zinc ore for: brass, bronze, galvanizing metals, agricultural use, chemical industry, paint, rubber. Manganese ore for: steel, golf clubs, glazes, batteries, added to metals to resist corrosion, railroad tracks, rifles, cannons.
Metaphysical Uses:
Chemical Formula: (Zn,Mn2+,Fe2+)(Fe3+,Mn3+)2O4
Group Classification: oxide
General Info: Franklinite (black/fluoresces green) is often found with zincite (reddish/brown), willemite (green), and calcite (white/fluoresces red). bound by regional metamorphism.
Identifying Properties:
- black, opaque
- fluoresces green
- hardness 5.5-6.5
- fracture
- reddish brown/dark brown streak
- can be slightly magnetic
- found as a massive or granular body in rocks
Typical Uses: Zinc ore for: brass, bronze, galvanizing metals, agricultural use, chemical industry, paint, rubber. Manganese ore for: steel, golf clubs, glazes, batteries, added to metals to resist corrosion, railroad tracks, rifles, cannons.
Metaphysical Uses:
- grounding
- perseverance (emotional or physical)
- initiates self-expression
- helpful in the beginning of a spiritual journey. a welcoming crystal.
- Base Chakra
- Gemini
