41.0334306, -74.6384947
Stone Industries expansion continued in 2012 with the purchase of Limecrest Quarry, which would be reopened as Braen Stone of Sparta.
This location holds New Jersey Mining License Number 7, making it one of the oldest quarries still in production in New Jersey.
The Sparta Quarry dates back to 1906 when it was originally owned by Thomas Edison. Edison invested in constructing houses with prefabricated concrete components and purchased Limecrest Quarry for its limestone deposits, speculating that he could quarry the limestone, crush it to powder, mix it with aggregate pour it into molds, ship the cured components to job sites and assemble the pieces.
Edison eventually sold the property to a company that marketed the limestone as an agricultural and residential fertilizer and animal feed supplement, and when those markets faded the quarry fell into the hands of corporate owners who profited from curtailing its operations before the Braen Family purchased it.
In May of 2020 at the height of the COVID pandemic, when many businesses were shutting their doors, Braen was expanding with the addition of an asphalt plant located at the Sparta Quarry.
Thursday, December 5th
Sparta, NJ
light snow
33°
35° / 26°
Fri
29° / 22°
Sat
34° / 23°
Sun
42° / 28°
Mon
44° / 35°
Tue
53° / 44°
Aggregates
Granite and Limestone are the minerals that is extracted from this quarry location.
Sparta’s location provides a unique geologic makeup as it sits right on both sides of a granite and limestone deposit.
The crushed granite that is produced at the Sparta Quarry is sold as construction materials and used in the building of infrastructure projects. Depending on the final size of the crushed granite, it can be used for stormwater management, tracking pads, septic systems, driveway gravel, road base or road surfacing material, septic drain fields, bike trails, and underdrain construction.
The crushed limestone that is produced at the Sparta Quarry is sold as construction materials and used in the building of infrastructure projects. Depending on the final size of the crushed limestone, it can be used for septic systems, ballast for railroad tracks, road base, an aggregate for cement and asphalt, roofing stone, and racetrack mix.
Additionally, the Sparta Quarry produces 5-to-15-ton jetty stones. These extra-large, graded rocks are used as a sea defense to protect sensitive shoreline areas and prevent beaches from eroding. The specified mineral for these rocks is a tough, abrasive, granite material.
Asphalt
Road building materials.
The Sparta Quarry is home to one of two asphalt plants—a batch plant.
The material that is produced at these two asphalt plants is used for paving everything from your driveway to the runways at Newark International Airport.
The Sparta Quarry is governed by Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) helps to reduce deaths, injuries, and illnesses in the nation’s mines with a variety of activities and programs. The Agency develops and enforces safety and health rules for all U.S. mines, and provides technical, educational and other types of assistance to mine operators. MSHA works cooperatively with industry, labor, and other federal and state agencies to improve safety and health conditions for all miners in the United States.
In addition, the Sparta Quarry needs to abide by the principles and priorities of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP).
A national leader. A balanced approach. A commitment to be guided by science. That is the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
For over 50 years, DEP has made New Jersey a stronger and fairer state by protecting our environment and public health. With hard work, exceptional knowledge and expertise, the DEP’s staff has made the agency an unfailing guardian of New Jersey’s precious natural and historic resources.
The DEP was established on April 22, 1970 – America’s first official Earth Day. Today, DEP employees in dozens of programs continue to advance innovative strategies to safeguard and enhance New Jersey’s air, water and land, and the health of its residents.
The Sparta Quarry also operates in a manner in which all of the local ordinances set by the Sparta Township are followed.
Braen has both a safety and environmental department to ensure that all of its operations are following and exceeding the safety protocols set forth by MSHA and the principles and priorities of the NJDEP.
In addition, these two departments ensure that Braen is operating within the regulations set by other agencies on the local, state and federal level.
Braen always strives to go above and beyond, as a result, outside vendors are hired to provide additional help monitoring operations such as drilling and blasting.
Braen’s miners extract or excavate the earth and then crush the material down into smaller sized spec meeting material.
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If you want to work for a company that cares as much about their employees, as they do their customers, explore the job opportunities at Braen Stone.
View All OpeningsTypically, we blast one to two times a week. On a yearly average, it is 1.5 times a week or about 60-70 blasts a year. All blasts take place Monday through Friday between 10:00AM and 4:00PM. Blasts never occur on the weekend.
Please call Braen Stone directly at 973-595-6250 and ask to be put on the blast notification list.
Please call Braen Stone directly at 973-720-7094.
No, blasting is not damaging your house. Blasting is highly regulated by the government. Both the government and universities have done studies to show where damage occurs and the regulations set forth by the government are below that.
The lifespan of the quarry will depend on production. There is a limited amount of reserves available, so if production increases, that will shorten the lifespan of the quarry. If production decreases, it will increase the lifespan of the quarry.
The Sparta Quarry operates 24 hours a day from Monday at 6:00AM to Saturday at 12:00PM.
We are committed to being a good neighbor. If we haven’t addressed your question here, please reach out. Our team is available to answer your questions.
MESSAGE USDriven by our values, we believe doing good for others is the best reason to be in the business.
Fill out the form to request more information from one of our specialists. We appreciate your interest and look forward to serving you.
We believe doing good for others is the best reason to be in the business. Our success is the result of careful calculation and resource management, but more importantly, it reflects the values our founder instilled into our culture almost 120 years ago.
DOWNLOAD REQUEST FORMVIBRATION CONCERNS SUPPORT NUMBER
973-720-7094
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