Blue Points Amethyst Mine, Ontario
Rock hounds will "dig" unearthing sparkly souvenirs like the ones my girlfriend 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.
I am an avid admirer and collector of stromatolites. I recently visited the aquarium at Duluth, MN,
In one of their displays was a stromatolite from the Thunder Bay area that was covered in purple
amethyst. Do you have such material or do you know of anyone who might? Thank you.
Pat and I have been up to your mine many times. We come up from around the Twin Cities. We will again be coming up on October 1 this year and would like to make sure you will be there. We will be arriving at your mine at about 10 a.m. to 12 noon. As usual the garden variety is all we're looking for. We both look forward to seeing you again. A very sincere thank you.