For Rock Hounds: Blue Points Amethyst Mine in Northern 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.
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.
(4 votes, average: 1.75 out of 5)
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Loved Mr. Swanson's mine and after a number of years, wish to return hopefully this month, perhaps June 9-10 for several days. Is there a way to confirm the Mr. Swanson will have the mine open? Thanks
Nick
Hello
My husband and I along with our grandson will be driving the lake superior circle tour and will be in that area on the 19 th of june and we would love to come to this mine we are so excited everything I have been reading tells me this is the place to see and we would love to meet Mr swanson .If you have any suggestions as to what would be the best time please email us again we are so excited about this part of our trip thank you
gina rochon
@yahoo.com
Greetings.
I'm an old rockhound originaly from Michigan and now the Panhandle of Florida. I visited your mine in 2004 and had a great time and was able to find some nice specimins and 'Yard rock'. I'm looking forwarde to visiting again this summer while touring and rockhunting. Are you still open for solitary 'gents' (Can't get the wife to join in) that like to beat on rock and hopefully take some back home?
Rod
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.