The Rock Discovery Center is a field of imported rocks located next to the entrance to the mine. The rocks were brought here from various localities in the tri-state region of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania and include such economically important rock types as coal, shale, slate, marble, basalt, and others. Participants in the Rock Discovery Center are shown an example of each rock type, taught how to identify it, are told where the rocks are quarried and what they are used for, and are then invited to collect a specimen of each rock type to take home with them. The rocks are placed in a partitioned cardboard box that we provide. In this way, school students and others can acquire an “instant rock collection” while having an enjoyable, participatory, and educational experience. The Rock Discovery Center is an add-on option to the mine tour and is open to all visitors, provided a minimum of 10 people elect to participate. This option adds only $3.50 to the cost per person and only 30 minutes to the length of your stay at the mine. The rocks are already broken to sizes that fit in the boxes provided, so no tools are necessary.
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