Ever driven down Mount Hope Avenue in Rockaway and felt that low-frequency hum? You've probably seen the heavy trucks—those massive tri-axles—rumbling toward the massive entrance. That’s Tilcon Mt Hope NJ. Honestly, most people just see it as a giant hole in the ground or a source of dust on their windshields. But there is a lot more going on behind those gates than just "digging up rocks."
It’s a massive operation. Basically, it’s a 100% virgin granite (technically gneiss) quarry that literally builds the tri-state area. If you’ve walked on a sidewalk in Manhattan or driven on I-80 lately, you’ve likely been standing on Mount Hope stone.
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What is Tilcon Mt Hope NJ?
Located primarily in Rockaway Township and Wharton, the Mount Hope facility is one of the crown jewels of Tilcon New York’s operations. It isn't just a quarry; it's a vertically integrated construction material hub. Think of it as a one-stop-shop for the skeleton of our infrastructure.
The site produces high-quality aggregates, which is just a fancy industry word for crushed stone. This isn't just any stone. The Mount Hope quarry yields a specific type of pinkish granite-gneiss that is incredibly hard and durable. It’s the kind of stuff engineers drool over because it meets the strict standards for NYSDOT and NJDOT projects.
The Real Scale of the Operation
The facility is huge. It houses one of the largest asphalt plants in the entire state of New Jersey. In 2013, they opened a state-of-the-art Gencor Ultraplant here. This thing is a beast.
- Production Capacity: It can churn out 600 tons of asphalt per hour.
- Storage: They have nine 300-ton hot storage silos. That’s 2,700 tons of hot mix sitting ready to go at any given moment.
- Eco-Tech: The plant uses "blue smoke" capture technology. It basically sucks up the volatiles and smells that usually come with asphalt and feeds them back into the burner as fuel. Smart, right?
Why the Location Matters (It's Not Just Luck)
Mining has been happening at Mount Hope since around 1710. Yeah, you read that right. Before the United States was even a country, people were pulling iron ore out of these hills. The famous Elizabeth Mine and the New Leonard Mine (which went down over 2,700 feet!) were the historical heavy hitters here.
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Tilcon took over the quarry side of things in 2001, buying it from Mount Hope Rock Products. The location is strategic. Being right off I-80 means they can move material to Newark, New York City, or out to Pennsylvania without getting bogged down in too much local traffic—though local residents might disagree on the "traffic" part during peak paving season.
The Materials: What They Actually Sell
If you’re a contractor or just a curious homeowner, you might wonder what actually comes out of there. It's not just "rocks."
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- Crushed Stone: Ranging from large "rip-rap" (the big boulders you see near bridges) down to #57 stone and "Quarry Process" (QP), which is the fine, dusty stuff that packs down tight for driveways.
- Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA): Used for everything from your driveway to the Garden State Parkway.
- Recycled Materials: This is a big one. They take in old concrete and asphalt (C&D debris) and crush it back down into "RCA" (Recycled Concrete Aggregate). It’s cheaper and better for the environment than mining new stone for every single project.
Dealing With the "Neighbor" Factor
Let’s be real: living near a quarry isn’t always a picnic. There’s the blasting. Tilcon has to follow strict NJDEP and federal MSHA regulations regarding seismic vibrations. They usually post blasting schedules, and if you live nearby, you’ve definitely felt that "thump" in your floorboards.
Then there’s the water. Because the quarry is a giant pit, it naturally collects rainwater. Tilcon has to manage this through a series of settlement ponds and pumps to ensure that any water discharged back into the local watershed (like the Pequannock River area) is clean and doesn't cause flooding. They've had plenty of back-and-forth with towns like Bloomingdale and Rockaway over the years regarding expansion and environmental impact.
The "Secret" History You Might Not Know
While Tilcon focuses on the rock, the ground beneath them is a honeycomb of old iron mines. During World War II, the New Leonard Mine at Mount Hope was the most productive iron mine in the state. There’s even a massive underground "Machine Hall" deep below the surface that was part of a proposed (but never fully realized) hydroelectric project.
Actionable Insights for Contractors and Homeowners
If you're looking to source material from Tilcon Mt Hope NJ, here is the "insider" way to handle it:
- Check the Scale House: Don't just show up with a pickup truck and expect a bag of gravel. This is a heavy industrial site. They generally deal in bulk. If you're a small-timer, call ahead to see if they are "retail-friendly" that day or if they prefer you go through a local landscape yard that stocks their stone.
- Asphalt is Seasonal: The asphalt plant usually shuts down or goes into "cold patch" mode during the dead of winter (December to March) because the ground is too cold to lay hot mix. Plan your projects accordingly.
- Request the "Subbase": If you're doing a shed pad or a driveway, ask for "DGA" (Dense Graded Aggregate) or "Quarry Process" from Mount Hope. Because it's crushed granite, it interlocks better than the rounded river stone you find at big-box stores.
The Mount Hope quarry is a massive engine for the local economy, employing hundreds and keeping the roads we drive on from falling apart. It's loud, it's dusty, and it's essential. Next time you see a Tilcon truck, just remember—that stone might have been sitting under Rockaway for 1.2 billion years before it ended up under your tires.
Next steps for you:
If you're planning a project, you should verify the current tipping fees for recycling at the Mount Hope facility, as they can change based on the material type. You can also contact their main office in Parsippany to set up a commercial credit account if you plan on hauling more than 50 tons.