Find the best amethyst in Thunder Bay with the region’s three incredible amethyst mines. Discover where to find amethyst and how to bring it home.
There are a lot of colours that people think about when they dream of northern Ontario. There’s Lake Superior’s deep blue, the fall foliage’s reds and golds, and the Canadian shield’s shimmering granite to name a few. But it’s purple that stands out among all of them.
The north shore of Lake Superior draws gem hunters in droves to the Amethyst mines in Thunder Bay. Here, treasure hunters dig through rock and stone in search of rich hues of violet set amongst the hard stone of Ontario’s stone.
Thunder Bay’s Amethys mines line the Trans-Canada Highway all the way to Nipigon. I’ve had the pleasure of digging the stone rubble in search of gemstones a few times, and it’s always an exciting time when you pull over a rock to find a glimmering sheen of purple beneath.
Throughout the summer months, when tourism in Thunder Bay is at its peak, visitors line the city’s scenic waterfront. Among the biggest draws to the region are the famous Fort William Historic Site and Lake Superior sailing tours on the bright, blue waters of one of the world’s largest lakes.
What Is Amethyst?
But gem hunters know Thunder Bay for a different reason. It’s the sparkling violet hues of amethyst that draw them to the province’s north. These semi-precious stones are a variety of quartz, and it’s one of the most popular and well-known varieties of gemstones in the world.
Amethyst is famous for its gorgeous purple hues that range from light lavender to deep violets. These stones are typically transparent to translucent. It’s the official gemstone of Ontario and the birthstone for the month of February, which happens to be my birth month!
While Amethyst can be found in countries such as Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Zambia, and the United States, the Thunder Bay amethyst is considered among the best in the world.
Amethyst doesn’t develop inside of the existing stone. Because of this, there’s no need to crack or break the stone open in order to discover whether a geode exists inside. That makes amethyst mining easy for everyone.
Thunder Bay Amethyst Mines
Amethyst mining in northern Ontario typically takes place from mid-May to mid-October. During this time, three amethyst mines in Thunder Bay invite visitors to pick from the sparkly gems pulled from open-pit mines.
While there are several smaller operations, Blue Points Amethyst Mine, Diamond Willow, and Amethyst Mine Panorama are open to visitors. For those looking for processed gems, there are plenty of places within these mines and stores throughout Thunder Bay where you can buy gems and gem-quality stones.
Amethyst Mine Panorama
Located about 50 minutes east of the city, Amethyst Mine Panorama is the most popular place to find amethyst in Thunder Bay. Entrance is $10 per person and includes a tour of the mining facilities. Amethyst Mine Panorama is open seven days a week from 10 am till 5 pm.
Like all amethyst mines in Ontario, you have to have a special certification to enter the mine itself, but visitors have access to a large field of mined stone where they can pick and choose from what has been mined.
Amethyst Mine Panorama is a family-run operation. Tim and Lori Lukinuk purchased the mine from Steve’s parents, Steve and Lorna, who had run Panorama since 1980. During the colder months, Lori runs the Amethyst Gift Centre in downtown Thunder Bay, which runs year-round. During the summer, she can be found welcoming visitors at the mine’s on-site gift shop.
Visitors to the mine can pick from their large collection of raw stone, as my family did on a recent visit to Thunder Bay, or select from beautifully crafted amethyst artwork inside the mine’s giftshop. Those looking for raw stone will pay about $5 per pound of rock. It’s weighed before you leave.
Blue Points Amethyst Mine
Just a short drive west from Amethyst Mine Panorama lies Blue Point Amethyst Mine. This mine is owned by Linden Swanson, who lives on-site during the mine’s summer operations. The open-pit mine works by drilling and blasting to create fractures and then using wedges, chisels, and sledgehammers to loosen the rock.
Blue Points has no mine tour, but visitors can pay by the bucket for their chosen stones. $25 for those who choose from the rock selection and $35 for those allowed into the mine itself.
Blue Points Amethyst Mine in Thunder Bay is open seasonally from 10 am to 5 pm from Thursday through Tuesday. They’re closed on Wednesdays.
Diamond Willow Amethyst Mine
Located about 45 minutes east of Thunder Bay, Diamond Willow is another amazing place to find amethyst in Thunder Bay.
The vein was discovered in 1960 by Gunnard Noyes, and he launched Diamond Willow in the 1970s. In the 1980s, the torch passed to Gunnard’s son, Doug, who operated the mine until 2007. Under the care of Doug’s children, the mine ceased operations in 2015. That year it was re-opened by Doug’s daughter Carol and her husband Brandon Leroux.
The pair have continued to operate this Thunder Bay amethyst mine in the traditional style to this day.
Like Blue Point, Diamond Willow mine offers free admission. Guests can take home a 2-gallon pail for $30. They also have garden stones starting at $5 and polished stones starting at $2. They have a small shop on-site selling amethyst mined on-location and a small selection of finished gifts.
They are open daily from 10 am till 5 pm.
Tips For Amethyst Mining In Thunder Bay
If you’re planning on scouring for amethyst in Thunder Bay, here are a few tips to help you get started.
- Wear closed-toed shoes. You’ll be scavenging for rocks over uneven terrain. The risk of stubbed toes is real.
- Amethyst mining in Thunder Bay is family-friendly. I experienced this with my kids, and they had an incredible time. Typically, children under 12 require adult supervision.
- Remember that you have to get the rocks home. Don’t buy more than you can travel with.
- Hammers are, generally, not allowed at the mines. Because amethyst forms on the surface of rocks, breaking stones is not necessary.
Share Your Ontario Gemstone Story
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Disclosure: This experience was made possible with the support of Tourism Thunder Bay. As always, all opinions remain my own.
Kevin Wagar is a founder and editor of Ultimate Ontario. He has been working in the travel media industry since 2015 when he founded his family travel website Wandering Wagars – Adventure Family Travel.
Over the years Kevin has developed a deep love for his home province of Ontario and aims to showcase the incredible experiences and amazing small businesses found within it.