Thunder Bay Agate Mine

Update

Unfortunately, this mine is now closed due to land disputes… Sorry

End Update

Are you ready to head to the great white North to get some wonderful banded agates? Best of all you don’t even really have to work to get at them since their sitting right on top of the ground.

Well then a treasure hunting vacation to the Thunder Bay Agate Mine may be exactly the trip you’ve been waiting for.

Mining Agates at the Thunder Bay Agate Mine

The Thunder Bay Agate Mine located in Thunder Bay, Ontario Canada is one of the few places in the world where you can find banded agate in veins rather then in pockets. Although they are part of the exact same geologic formation as the Lake Superior agates these beautiful agates are not exactly the same.

Why aren’t they considered Lake Superior agates if they’re part of the same formation? Well, for one they were never freed from their original matrix and washed around in the lake, also they formed in sheets rather then in small round pockets. But make no mistake about it these babies display all of the same wonderful color that Lake Superior agates are renowned for.

Best of all at the Thunder Bay Agate Mine you only pay for the agates you collect. So if you don’t find any that you want, you don’t have to pay. If you do find some you like then you’ll only pay $8 Canadian per pound. This is a really good deal given that when you know what to look for you can find agates that can sell for between a few dollars and several thousand dollars.

At the Thunder Bay Agate Mine all the hard work of mining agate is done for you. The mine has a large collecting area that is completely covered in agates and also has large mounds of the material that has already been dug up. The hardest choice you’ll have is which ones to take home.

Much like Lake Superior agates, Thunder Bay agates are known for their rich red, orange, and yellow coloring. This coloring is due to the differing concentrations of iron and the amount of oxidation within each of the bands.

The agates from Thunder Bay can be very large, as a mater of fact at the entrance to the mine they have the world’s largest agate on display.

If you’re up for a good dive and want to go after Lake Superior agates, then check out our Lake Superior Agates page and head on down to Copper Harbor Michigan to meet up with the folks at A Superior Dive for their agate hunting class.

Equipment Needed for Mining Agates

So you’re ready to go get some Thunder Bay agates, well you may want to take some of the following items with you:

-Small hand shovel (try to get one that is easy to use while kneeling)

-Rock hammer (useful if you plan on just digging a little or a lot)

-Food and Water (no food is available at the mine)

Getting to the Thunder Bay Agate Mine

The mine is open mid-May to mid-October be sure to call for exact dates and times that they are open.

To visit the Thunder Bay Agate Mine you’ll fly into Thunder Bay Ontario, Canada. There are quit a few hotels available in Thunder Bay. Be sure to get a rental car since the mine is about 45 minutes away.

Directions to the Thunder Bay Agate Mine

The mine is about 45 minutes east of Thunder Bay and easily accessible. Get on to Highway 11/17 (Also called Terry Fox Courage Hwy) heading East. You should see signs pointing you to Sleeping Giant Park if so you’re on the right track.

Follow Highway 11/17 for about 16 kilometers to Hwy 527, you should start to see many signs showing the way to the Thunder Bay Agate Mine also.

At Hwy 527 turn left (North) and follow it for about 1 kilometer to the entrance to the Thunder Bay Agate Mine on your left.

Contacting the Thunder Bay Agate Mine

For more information about the Thunder Bay Agate Mine call 807-683-3595.

RR17 Hwy 527

Thunder Bay, ON  P7B 6B3

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