SHMM will have a paleontologist available for young people (of all ages) to go fossil hunting. The Fossil Discovery Center is still in a pilot stage, but is based on SHMM’s successful Rock Discovery Center. The “digs” will begin at 10:00 and take place every half hour thereafter; each dig will last a little less than 30 minutes.

Participation is limited to 25 people per session on a first-come, first-serve basis. Each fossil collector will get 6 fossils with a general ID chart.

(Groups of 15 people or more can make an appointment at the Museum Shop to participate in the FDC for other weekends or weekdays, pending availability of SHMM personnel.) Note: 12:30 time slot not recommended for people taking the 1:00 PM mine tour. Other time slots available by appointment for groups of 10 or more.

This show is held the last full weekend in September and features both indoor and outdoor mineral, fossil, and gem dealers.

September 25 (Saturday)

54th Annual Franklin Sterling Gem and Mineral Show and Outdoor Swap/Sell
Franklin Middle School, Buckwheat Rd. at Washington St., Franklin, N.J.
9AM - 6PM (indoors); 7:30AM – 6PM (outdoor swap and sell).

Annual Show Banquet and Auction
Geotech Center, Sterling Hill Mining Museum, 30 Plant St., Ogdensburg, NJ.
Banquet begins 6:30PM; tickets $18.

Sterling Hill Garage Sale
Sterling Hill Mining Museum, Christiansen Pavilion, 10AM - 3PM.

September 26 (Sunday)

54th Annual Franklin Sterling Gem and Mineral Show and Outdoor Swap/Sell
Franklin Middle School, Buckwheat Rd. at Washington St., Franklin, NJ
10 AM - 5PM (indoors); 9AM – 5PM (outdoor swap and sell).

Sterling Hill Garage Sale
Sterling Hill Mining Museum, Christiansen Pavilion, 10AM - 3PM.

Mineral collecting at StHMM (daytime only)
Collecting allowed on Mine Run dump and in the Fill quarry, Passaic pit, and “Saddle” area. Open to the public.

Hours 9AM – 3PM. Fees: $5 admission plus $1.50 for each pound of material taken.

Each participant will receive a free copy of The Tour Guide’s Guidebook to the SHMM and will be introduced to pre-visit and post-visit classroom activities to use in your school. This workshop is designed for teachers who wish to develop their students' class trip to Sterling Hill into classroom learning exercises.

In addition to an underground zinc mine, the Sterling Hill Mining Museum features both indoor and outdoor exhibits on many facets of mining and the uses of mined materials in society. Workshop attendees will spend much of the morning in the mine and will concentrate on three subjects: the geology of the mine, safety practices that were employed while the mine was active, and the use of physics in developing an efficient mining process.

During the afternoon we will tour the grounds outdoors, where large pieces of mining and milling equipment are on view. The day concludes in the Zobel Exhibit Hall, where more than 20,000 objects related to mining are on display. The focus throughout is to learn what this historic industrial site has to offer as an instructional resource.