REST IN PEACE
The York River Skarn Zone, one of the most interesting mineral localities in the Province of Ontario, is now a Provincial Nature Reserve, and collecting minerals is illegal.
How did this happen? It is said that rockhounds contribute five million dollars to the Bancroft economy every year. This is supposed to be the Mineral Capital of Canada.
(You'll notice that NAILING SIGNS TO TREES is considered kosher in a Provincial Nature Reserve! As is killing fish!)
From the Ontario Parks website:
| Natural Features
A bend of the York River has become a wetland with an adjacent sand flat, where poplar, white birch, ash, buffaloberry, and purple flowering raspberry grow. Minerals found here include nepheline, sodalite, biotite, zircon, and blue corundum. Park Facilities and Activities There are no visitor facilities. There are no visitor facilities. However, a short walk along an unmaintained road will take visitors to three picturesque waterfalls within the nature reserve. Mineral collecting and camping are prohibited. |
Note the mention of minerals found there, followed by the collecting prohibition... nice!
Story of how an American dealer spent his summer removing thousands of pounds of material
("One piece was so large it took three men to lift it into the van.")
Good thing he did, though, I guess, because the site is lost to collectors forever now.
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York River Skarn Zone
note the green backpack for scale |
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This is the small area at the top of the hill that produced the best grossular specimens. The collector is Brett Quaife. That is the extent of the main collecting area... clearly we're a menace to nature and must be banned! |
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Grossular on Diopside York River Skarn Zone, Bancroft, Ontario. The diopside crystal is 20 mm long. T. Jokela collection. |
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A 17 mm crystal on calcite. T. Jokela collection |
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A 19 mm grossular on calcite. T. Jokela collection |
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A 10 mm grossular with diopside. T. Jokela collection. |
For more information:
Ministry of Natural Resources
Ontario Parks
P.O. Box 219
Bancroft, Ontario
K0L 1C0
Phone: (613) 339-2807
