Natrolite from Upper New Street Quarry, Paterson, New Jersey, USA

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A loose single crystal of white opaque natrolite. Terminated and in good condition. Nice thumbnail for the species and locality.The Upper New Street Quarry in Paterson, New Jersey, is situated within Mesozoic basalt formations created by massive lava flows during the breakup of Pangaea. Commercial stone extraction and subsequent digging exposed numerous mineral-rich pockets and vugs within the trap rock, making the site world-famous among collectors for yielding exceptional specimens of green prehnite, various zeolites, calcite, and rare species. Although active industrial mining operations have long since ceased and parts of the area are built over, the location remains legendary in mineralogical history for its diverse and sculptural crystal assemblages.