The discovery of quartz crystal at this site dates back several decades. Located near the watercourse, the Couchepaganiche, fishermen and hunters brought back this curious hexagonal and unusual stone. Several farmers and inhabitants of the surroundings possessed this stone without knowing its name, its use and even less its formation. From 1993 to 2009 several searches and authorizations were necessary for the owners to find the exact location of the crystals as well as to ensure their sufficient quantity. It is therefore not an old mine.

Finding a stone does not mean finding the heart of a deposit. 

In 2010, the Chrétien-Belley family decided to create the Cristal du Lac company to educate clients about mining prospecting and to share their passion while respecting the environment. Due to customer requests and the success of Cristal du Lac, we opened a second tourist site on the regional road in 2 which offers various mineralogical activities.

Hardened water

Quartz is a mineral made up of silicon dioxide. With reference to the Mohs hardness scale, quartz has a hardness of 7. It is found either in the raw state, or in the form of colorless, colored or smoked crystals. The crystalline form turns out to be rather rare. The Greeks believed that the crystal "produces gel", was a piece of ice of great hardness. There are few recognized deposits in the world industrially exploited quartz crystals. The formation of crystals takes place under conditions very specific, including high thermal pressure, vacuum in the earth's layer, interaction of silicon and oxygen with a significant time factor. In fact, it is estimated that it takes 10 years for a quartz crystal grows to 000 cm. Quartz crystal has a hexagonal shape with opposite sides perfectly parallel with a six-faceted point. It originates on granite walls and grows for thousands of years. Some crystals could be used in watchmaking, optics and various devices.Today, quartz crystal is still present in jewelry.

The Cristal du Lac website contains crystals of different varieties: milky, translucent, tinted slightly red or brown, commonly called hematoids or peach-colored called tangerine. There are also several forms listed to date, unique points, double ended, twinned, druses, scepters, lasers, tabulars and others. The size of the crystals found to date at the site ranges from ¼ inch to 5 inches long. “Matrices”, a set of crystals resting on the same granite base, were also discovered in large quantities on the site. Some dies weigh over 200 pounds.

A stone of energy

According to our information, quartz crystal increases certain spiritual and physiological aspects. Crystal is a favorable stone for meditation. This stone, of a powerful energy, intercepts the disturbing waves of our environment. It helps balance the aura and can help resolve some emotional blockages. We associate balance, protection and imagination. Rock crystal also facilitates interpersonal communication and is used in many types of communication devices. This stone maintains harmony between body and mind, increases intuition and clairvoyance. Quartz crystal acts as a catalyst and conductor of energy. It amplifies the power of the other stones when they are put together.