Rock hounds will "dig" unearthing sparkly souvenirs like the ones my husband and I found at a small amethyst mine in lovely northern Ontario.
The Thunder Bay area is well known for its amethyst deposits. A clerk at a local rock shop directed us to the Blue Points Amethyst Mine in Pearl. We drove down a dirt road and found owner Lyndon Swanson, who was about to start drilling.
Lyndon invited us to fill a pail with amethyst for about $19 in U.S. currency. After we finished, Lyndon took a break to visit with us. He told us he'd bought Blue Points after coming here for years to buy amethyst.
We helped him lift a large piece of amethyst into his pickup truck, then returned to his cabin and bought two larger rocks. What a friendly and down-to-earth place!
Pearl is in northwestern Ontario on Highway 11/17, about 30 miles northeast of Thunder Bay and along the scenic northern shore of Lake Superior (see page 34 of the March/April 2002 issue to learn more about the region.)
To reach Blue Points Amethyst Mine, turn north on #5 Road North. Then turn left after crossing the railroad track and go about 2 miles--watch for the signs. The mine is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from mid-May through mid-October, except when Lyndon's hauling amethyst to Minnesota.
For more information, call 1-807/472-4460.
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