CK Williams Quarry

Date:

Location: 701 N. Delaware Dr., Easton, PA 18042

Join us for a field trip to CK Williams Quarry, located along PA-611 on the far western end of the Franklin Marble formation. The marble here has been heavily altered to serpentine, with occurrences of asbestiform minerals and various micas.

Pegmatite bodies are also present and may contain minerals such as:

• Feldspar

• Quartz

• Micas

• Schorl (black tourmaline)

• Titanite

• Other associated minerals

Some radioactive minerals are present in the quarry, though they are typically disseminated and in trace amounts.

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Trip Leaders and Partner Clubs

We are pleased to again welcome Tom Prachar from the Pennsylvania Earth Sciences Association (PESA), who will provide an overview of the geology of the site. His participation was a great addition to last year's trip.

This trip is being conducted jointly with the Delaware Valley Earth Science Society (DVESS).

Additional trip co-leaders include:

• Dane “Great” Transue (PESA)

• Mark Leipert (DVESS)

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Meeting Location

CK Williams Quarry Parking Area

For GPS directions, use:

701 N. Delaware Drive
Easton, PA 18042

This address corresponds to the Easton Water Bureau, an old brick building located next to the meeting area.

Parking areas include:

• A pull-off near an electrical transmission tower just past the brick building

• A second pull-off directly across the road

Carpooling is strongly encouraged whenever possible.

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Schedule

?? The trip will begin no later than 20 minutes after the scheduled meet-up time. Please arrive promptly.

Collecting will begin around 10:00 AM and continue through the day.

Planned collecting areas may include:

• Franklin Marble exposures

• Delaware River bank digging areas

• Pegmatite zones within the quarry

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Safety Information

?? Important: Parts of the quarry contain asbestos mineralization as well as trace radioactive minerals.

Participants may wish to bring or wear a dust mask or surgical mask when working in areas where asbestos minerals may be present.

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Required Safety Gear

Proper safety gear is required on all field trips.

Participants must bring:

• Safety glasses

• Sturdy footwear (boots recommended)

• Gloves

Hard hats are NOT required for this trip.

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Liability

All attendees will be required to sign a Hold Harmless Agreement and attendance sheet before participating in the trip.

Fee: Free

Tools: WATER, BUG / TICK SPRAY, work gloves, rock hammer, chisels, sledge, buckets, newspaper, pry bars, Geiger counter (if desired), LUNCH / SNACK

Post Event Write-Up:

Attendees:  Groundhog Dave Shapiro, Mike "the Pie Man" Dunton, "Great" Dane Transue, Tom Prachar, LaRonda Davis, Rich "Drake" Drake, Lois Merle, Luann Reed-Siegel, Chrissy and Renae Skubish, Rich + Meg Blatman, John Lammey, Stacey Carton w Dexter, Rowena Ori-Aquino, Sandy Hanrahan, Regino De La Cruz; club members of PESA, DRESS and Monroe County clubs

 

We had a great kickoff to the Spring 2026 trip season with our visit to C.K. Williams Quarry.  With the help of our Pro Guide Tom Prachar, we were given a thorough overview of the geology and minerals of the quarry and surroundings.  Folks were shown outstanding specimens of various Serpentines and Asbestos minerals, with various Micas and associated minerals like Titanite, Limonite, Quartz, Feldspar and others.  We were told about the Intrusive body / pegmatite in the quarry, and the massive rockslide from around 2019.  Lastly, we were shown many examples of polished and cabochon-ed pieces from Tom's handywork and lapidary experience.  It is known and regarded that this material does for the most part, take a GREAT polish and is exceptional for Lapidary work.

 

Folks took to collecting in the quarry and on the Delaware River bank directly opposite the quarry.  Many nice examples of Eastonite (well-sorted hybird of Serpentine and Phlogopite Mica) were found.  Several members found pieces with sections of Chrysotile or Tremolite alternations.  A few nice examples of the reddish "Verdolite" were found as well, wihtin the boulder field by the Quarry walls.