Moving Mountains for Our Clients
How We Delivered a 19,000-Pound Crystal into a Private Residence
At JSM Project Management, we’re known for our ability to make the seemingly impossible, possible. But when a client casually asked us to help transport and install a crystal in her home, we never imagined she meant the second-largest amethyst triple geode in the world—a 16-foot-tall, 19,000-pound natural marvel. It even has a name and is known worldwide.
And yet, we delivered.
Here’s how we moved a geological wonder—safely, privately, and precisely—into a remote home tucked deep in the hills outside New York.
Step One: Understanding the Beast
First, we had to learn how to move a geode of this size without compromising its integrity. That meant:
Conducting a full internal scan of the crystal to identify fault lines and stress points.
Engineering a custom-built metal transport cage—designed to cradle the amethyst without pressure damage. It included a moveable base with a concealed trap door that allowed us to safely release it once installed.
Engineering a strapping system for safe transport with every strap carefully tightened to a precise torque and placement.
Consulting geologists, structural engineers, and specialty riggers to ensure every aspect was accounted for.
Consulting a specialty shipping company that works frequently for our clients and their precious cargo. This company, in coordination with JSM, handled all international paperwork, duties, and logistics to safely, efficiently, and legally transport the geode to our NY Port.
Step Two: Designing the Route
Getting it from the Port of New York to a remote location was another challenge entirely.
The narrow, winding access roads weren’t designed for cargo of this magnitude, so we ran a full-scale test. One of our team members towed a cargo trailer—built to match the geode’s size and crane size—from the main highway to the house. The route revealed multiple obstacles:
Roads that needed straightening through private property
Electrical poles and overhead wires to be temporarily removed
Mailboxes to be temporarily relocated
Temporary easements across neighboring properties
We coordinated directly with local municipalities and property owners to secure all necessary clearances to clear the path.
Step Three: Installing the Crystal
Once we arrived onsite, the final step was just as bold: removing the roof of the house.
We craned the geode down through an opening in the ceiling with less than an inch of clearance. Precision and timing were critical. Our team, along with structural engineers and expert riggers, executed the maneuver flawlessly and on the exact dated planned all along.
A Monumental Success
At JSM Project Management, no request is too large, too complex, or too unconventional. Whether we’re managing multimillion-dollar renovations or coordinating once-in-a-lifetime installations, we approach each project with vision, rigor, and unmatched dedication with an eye for detail that is unmatched.
We don’t just move mountains—we move crystals that weigh as much as one.