Excursions to the mine in the forest & Mineralogical activities at the Activity Center
Unique mineralogical activities in Saguenay - Lac-Saint-Jean
Summer
Cristal du Lac located in Lac-Saint-Jean includes:
Located in the forest, live a Excursion geology at the mine and bring back your quartz crystals.
Le Mineralogical Activity Center de Cristal du Lac offers you ways to have fun with your family, while learning about the world of mineralogy.
Located directly on the regional road, discover the Prospection-Express, the Pearl Extractions, the Economuseum and take the opportunity to visit our Boutique.
Winter
Cristal du Lac in Saguenay offers various indoor mineralogical activities as well as a shop.
Prospecting-Express, Geodes to Crack, Opening of Pearl Oysters
Winter like summer, an immersion mineralogical for everyone!
A visit to Cristal du Lac is both a discovery and a passage through time. Under the roof of a century-old barn which has retained all its cachet of yesteryear, enhanced by a warm welcome, young and old alike will experience activities associated with the world of mineralogy. In addition to the minerals of the world with vivid colors displayed in all respects, at the store, you will be dazzled by the discovery of pearl oysters which contain a pearl of your choice that will be the envy of those around you.
You will be amazed by a visit to the Galerie du Cristal which contains more than a hundred specimens of quartz crystals in unusual colors, sizes and shapes. And what about the prospector-crystal maker in his Economuseum, which will captivate you with the geological history of crystal. This mineral from the magmatic depths recognized as a semi-precious stone in Quebec and which adorns jewelry counters.
The picking of a simple quartz crystal rock has become, with the commitment of a family, the spearhead of an adventure that has continued to grow for a decade.
An unparalleled tourist site, located on the regional road near Lac-Saint-Jean. You will be delighted by its spaces, its greenery and its amenities offering a downtime conducive to family reunions.
History
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 raise customer awareness of 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 2nd tourist site on the regional route in 2015 which offers different mineralogical activities.