Home

Our Restaurant
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SWISS INN
In the Beautiful
DENBIGH HILLS OF MAZINAW COUNTRY

Take a tour into the mineral capital of Canada, a geological paradise in the Canadian Shield, where many area specimens grace museum and private collections all over the world. Whether you are a geologist, a rockhound or just like collecting pretty rocks this tour has something to offer for all. From hammer and chisel specimen hounding to open pit collection to polished accessory purchase, we have just what you are looking for and more.
Upon arrival, enjoy a delicious dinner chosen from the restaurant's entrée menu. Spend the night in your clean, comfortable room in a peaceful wilderness setting. The next morning enjoy a hearty breakfast before setting out on your mapped rockhound tour.
  
 
MacDonald Mine
  
Open to the public at no fee the MacDonald Mine features deep drilling into a giant rock cliff. The amazing cave-like environment is an experiance to be enjoyed by all. Explore the tunnels and shafts created by this mining project. Walk down into the giant cavern, magnificently lined with a multitude of gems and minerals. For collectors, tools will come in handy, as very little loose rock still exists here..
Minerals include: feldspar, quartz, fluorite, ilmenite, galena, etc. etc.
 
 
Denbigh Rock Cut  

Road side rock cuts are often overlooked as potential hounding sites, when in reality they present a great opportunity as sedimentary layers created over millions of years are clearyly visible. This cut on either side of 41 Hwy, a short walk from the Swiss Inn (do not drive as there is no area to park) provides a magnificent cross section view of ancient rock strata. Please throw all debris you produce above the cut, not allowing any to fall to the base.
Minerals to be found include: Quartz, Feldspar, Mica, Peristerite, Amazonite, Beryl

 
 
Bessemer Mine
 

This mine was in operation from 1901 till about 1913 producing about 90,000 tonnes of ore in its time. Remnants from the period include the filled in mine, the ore dump, foundations of the crushing mill and other mining related buildings. Although the original mine has been sealed (but still visable), there remains a gigantic ore dump rich in gems and minerals (I even found gold!), that exists as a very worthwile collection site.
 Minerals include: Magnetite, Pyrite, Pyrrhotite, Chalcopyrite, Garnet, epidote, actinolite, amphibole, orange calcite, and the occasional small magnetite octahedron.

 
 
Aqua-Rose Beryl Pit  

Discovered in 1898, the "Beryl Pit" is a good example of the rich mining history of the Madawaska Valley area: Feldspar for pottery and ceramics, garnets and corundum for abrasives, beryllium for alloying copper and phosphate for fertilizer. A small fee grants you a trespass permit to the site with no further costs for minerals collected. For seasoned rock hounds the complex pegmatite location offers a challenge in extracting minerals from the pit itself of just to dig on the dumps.
Minerals include: Green to blue-green Beryl, Quartz, Garnet, Fluorite, Feldspar, Mica, Amazonite, Pegmatite, Peristerite, etc., etc..

 
 
Princess Sodalite Mine and Rock Shop
   
In 1901, the Prince and Princess of Wales were presented with a piece of Sodalite from this site. The Princess so admired the richness of the deep blue colour of the Sodalite that arrangements were made to ship 130 tons to England for use in decorating the Marlborough House. In recognition the site was renamed Princess Sodalite Mine. Since 1893 the mine has been in intermitten operation, the mine itself is currently closed, however a quantity various minerals from the Princess Sodalite Mine as well as other local mines and quarries are deposited in a collecting area. (Small fee per pound.)
Minerals include: Sodalite, Nepheline, Magnetite, Rose Quartz, peristerite, feldspar, Graphic Granite, etc., etc.
 
 
  Bancroft Mineral Museum  
Located in downtown Bancroft in the Bancroft and Disctrict Camber of Commerce builing, the museum contains a magnificent display of virtually all gems, rocks and minerals from our area. Accommodating staff are present to answer all of your questions, as well the B&DCC Mineral Collecting Guidebook is available here to assist you in your hounding.  
 
Lakeside Gems - Nature Shop & Studio    

A Cool little gift shop and a great place to browse!
A studio featuring Semi-Precious gemstone jewellery, crystals, rocks and minerals. And for the do-it-yourselfers, they feature a wide selection of the essentials for rockhounding, ranging from rock hammers, picks and chisels to safety gear to rock tumblers and supplies to perfect your gem collection.

 
 

Gem and Rockhound Package includes:

- Dinner
- Motel Accommodations
- Breakfast
- Suggested mines and pits, with maps
- Rock hammers and safety gear (loan)
- Discount coupons for your stops

(proper footwear is highly recommended)

Proffessional Geologist Guide

Supplement your tour with Geologist Chris Fouts. Small groups can be accomodated for supervised collection excursions with full instructions and demonstartions on how to safely find, collect, clean and present your minerals.

 
 

Dinner, Breakfast and Accommodation Package for 2 Persons (double occupancy)

$136.00 *
* Taxes & Grat. not included

For more specific or custom made packages please inquire

Don't Forget Your Camera!