Use Cedarhaus as Your Base for All Your Rockhounding Adventures in the Bancroft Area
With almost 90% of earth’s minerals located in Bancroft, it’s fondly known as the ‘mineral capital of Canada.’ Rockhounding enthusiasts can collect, view breathtaking rock formations, explore underground caves, and learn about our extensive mining history. Below is a list of places you can visit to get started on your adventure.
Rockhound Gemboree
Don’t forget about the annual Rockhound Gemboree happening in early August. Celebrate the wonders in Bancroft, Canada’s Mineral Capital! The event brings together over 100 dealers of fine mineral specimens, gemstone jewellery, and lapidary supplies. Fun for all ages: there are exhibits of minerals, crystals, gems and fossils. You can shop for one-of-a-kind jewellery and art pieces or find that perfect addition to your own collection!
Local Rockhounding Spots
CN Rock Pile (Bancroft)
The CN Rock Pile is a the perfect place for families, beginners, and all lovers of minerals! The CN Rock pile is made up of materials that were brought in from the Golden-Keene Quarry for the construction of the Town’s railway! Now, anyone is free to collect minerals here to create or expand their collections!
Directions: The CN Rock Pile is located directly across the road from the Town of Bancroft Municipal Office, on the Hastings Heritage Trail. It will be approximately 200 meters down the trail on your left.
Bancroft Mineral Museum (Bancroft)
The Bancroft Mineral and Mining Museum is housed in the fully-restored heritage train station. It is owned and operated by the Bancroft Gem and Mineral Club. Stop by and discover the history of the mining in the area, learn about mineral collecting. You can explore over 400 local specimens, all on display in the 1200 square-foot showroom. The museum also has mineral guidebooks for sale.
Princes Sodalite Mine (Bancroft)
The Princess Sodalite Mine Rock Shop has been a unique shopping experience to all visiting Bancroft for many years. The mine continues to produce an abundance of Sodalite in all quantities from collector specimens to large garden pieces.
The Rock Farm, a must visit for collectors young and old, has new crops added this season to give collectors new pickings. What’s new …well that’s the fun part, you have to visit to see for yourself.
Lakeside Gems (Bancroft)
Established in 1999, Lakeside Gems is located just outside beautiful Bancroft, Ontario. A destination for mineral collectors worldwide, Bancroft is one of the best places to find Canadian blue sodalite.
As of 2019, Lakeside Gems offers Geologist-led Mineral Collecting Field Trips during the Spring, Summer and Fall. Join one of the scheduled rockhounding field trips, or inquire about private and school outings. This is a great way for families to learn how to collect and how to identify minerals by recognizing their distinguishing characteristics.
Beryl Pit / Aqua Rose Gems (Quadeville)
Enjoy a bit of a drive as you make your way to the Beryl Pit and AquaRose Gems near Quadeville. Get ready to dig in the vast open-pit quarry and to discover unique gems and minerals! To visit, you will need to obtain a permit from Kauffeldt’s General Store in Quadeville and also receive directions to the site.
Schickler (Wilberforce)
This site was explored for fluorite in the early-to-mid 1900s, and you can still easily find gemmy fluorite in colours ranging from colourless to rose-red, to deep amethyst purple in white calcite on the rock piles.
Associated with fluorite in the calcite are:
- hexagonal crystals of red/green apatite
- yellow scapolite
- buff coloured feldspar
- green pyroxene
The Schickler occurrence is only one potential collecting site of many on the 400 acre Crown property – come prepared to do some exploring!
Desmont (Wilberforce)
This site has been explored for various rare elements in the past, but as was so often the case, nothing of economic potential was found. There are a number of small workings on the property where you can find beautiful and unusual mineral specimens.
It has long been a popular rock hound destination for:
- hexagonal plates of silvery molybdenite
- emerald green diopside
- rare mineral stillwellite (which can be identified as small (5mm), tabular crystals and coatings with a distinctive maroon-red colour)
These, as well as other minerals are found in orange and white calcite near the workings.
Gibson Road / Titanite Hill (Tory Hill)
The Gibson’s Road Occurrence is a great place for beginner rockhounds to get a feel for digging in Highlands East. More experienced collectors will also be thrilled to find extraordinary examples of many of classic mineral species that have made this area famous.
The main collecting area is clearly defined and mineralization occurs close to the surface so there should be little difficulty in finding good specimens – even just by sifting through what others have left behind!
Smart Mine (Foymount-Donegal)
The Miller Property includes the Smart Mine established around 1880. Apatite was the main target because of its phosphate used as fertilizer.
The main minerals that can be found are apatite, fluorapatite, calcite, biotite, microcline felspar, amazonite, titanite and zircon.
Parking is fairly close to the diggings although low cars may want to park a little further away. It can be quite damp after a rain at the Miller Property which will increase mosquitos so come prepared.
Coe Hill Gold Mine (Coe Hill)
A piece of property on Lower Faraday road which features a fee-for fishing trout farm, a large rock shop, & multiple mineral occurrences open as fee for collecting sites. The property has 7 mineral collecting sites, including a magnetite & garnet site. The property is operated by Loretta & John Wotton. Minerals occurring on the property have been identified by Minerals Associates Inc. The property is open in the summer months.
WE ARE A FOUR SEASON GETAWAY!
We would like to invite you to come and enjoy our Bed & Breakfast in Bancroft, Ontario on Vanluven Lake. Cedarhaus is situated on 3 acres of forested, lakefront property. Our four season retreat has two private suites. Each one comes with its own private bathroom and use of the common spaces: living room, kitchen and outdoor decks. Your breakfast is also included when you stay with us. The kitchen is stocked with a variety of hot and cold breakfast items that you prepare and eat when it suits you. The lake and the forest are waiting for you to enjoy. We hope you will come and stay awhile, experience a relaxing getaway from your daily lives, a chance to relax in nature and nurture your soul.
CEDARHAUS B&B
NATURE & NURTURE