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. In 2015, due to customer requests and the success of Cristal du Lac, Cristal du Lac opened a 2nd tourist site on the regional route which offers different mineralogical activities: Express Prospecting, Pearl Extraction, Mineral Shops, Gold Panning. An Économusée du Prospecteur Cristallier is built in 2023 on this same site

In 2020, Cristal du Lac opens a branch in Saguenay.