History
The Cristal du Lac mine, located in Métabetchouan-Lac-à-la-Croix, in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, is renowned for its high-quality quartz crystals.
The crystals are extracted by hand, without blasting, which helps preserve their integrity. The quartz crystals from this mine are hexagonal in shape and vary in color, often including tangerine hues and other unique shades.
Quartz is a very hard mineral (hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale), making it ideal for decorative and jewelry applications.
Crystal Lake Quartz crystals are considered gemstones and are highly prized by collectors and jewelry enthusiasts. Prices may vary depending on size, shape and color of crystals.
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 company Cristal du Lac to raise awareness among customers about 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 road which offers different mineralogical activities: Prospection-Express, Pearl Extraction, Mineral Shops, Gold Panning. A Crystal Prospector Economuseum is built in 2023 on this same site.
In 2020, Cristal du Lac opens a branch in Saguenay.
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