Unearthing legends: The hidden kingdom of quartz at Cristal du Lac
Ancient civilizations crafted quartz into jewelry, believing it was super-cooled ice
Jacques Cartier learned of the “Kingdom of Saguenay” from tales told by Indigenous people when he sailed past the mouth of the Saguenay River in 1535. Like every other story he heard while searching for a route to Asia, the naive explorer believed it to be true. The kingdom, he was assured, was ruled by blonde men sitting on a pile of gold, diamonds, and jewels. When he returned in 1542 to establish the Charlesbourg-Royal settlement near what is now Quebec City, his crew did discover some gold and diamonds, which he sent back to France, only to learn they were fool’s gold and quartz crystals.
Some historians speculate that the Indigenous residents were playing a trick on Cartier. Others suggest the tales were passed down by the Vikings, or perhaps the residents were predicting the future. Cartier missed his chance to sail north up the Saguenay to the Lac-St-Jean region, but Rémi Belley did not. There, he and his family have unearthed their own Kingdom of Saguenay at Cristal du Lac.
Experiencing Canada host Nathan Coleman prospecting for quartz with Remi Belley Cristal du Lac Owner, General Director, and Crytal Prospector. (The Weather Network)
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For decades, farmers, hunters, and anglers had stumbled upon hexagonal quartz crystals in the area, unaware of their significance. Belley, a geologist who heard these stories, spent over a decade searching for the source. After finally discovering the heart of the deposit, he could have sold the land and left the crystals to be strip-mined. However, Belley is a different kind of explorer than Cartier.
Recognizing that this special place should be prospected sustainably, he aimed to show people how fortunate we are to have a spot like this in Canada. In 2010, the Chrétien-Belley family established their business to share their passion for mining and prospecting. Adopting an educational mission, they take people on crystal mine excursions to experience the true value of this Kingdom du Saguenay treasure.
Host Nathan Coleman walking through the Cristal du Lac site. (The Weather Network)
What makes this deposit unusual is the variety of quartz it contains. Typically, a deposit is limited to one type of crystal, but here there are four. There are translucent clear crystals and milky ones, along with two tinted varieties: a slightly red or brown crystal, and the other is a peach-coloured called tangerine.
Ancient civilizations crafted quartz into jewelry, believing it was super-cooled ice. As a hard gem, quartz can be used for microscope, telescope, and laser lenses. Since it vibrates at precise frequencies, it helps transmit television and radio signals accurately and is used in watches, clocks, and GPS devices.
Host Nathan Coleman found this beautiful Quartz. It’s displayed at the Cristal du Lac Ecomuseum® in Lac-Saint-Jean. (The Weather Network)
Clear quartz is known as a healing crystal, and some cultures claim it can heal any condition by providing high energy levels to boost the immune system and restore balance to the body. Whether quartz will restore your inner harmony or not, a visit to Cristal du Lac reveals that living surrounded by quartz has indeed done so for the Chrétien-Belley family.
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