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⇱ Dark Star Crystal Mine, Monmouth Township, Highlands East Township, Haliburton County, Ontario, Canada

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Dark Star Crystal Mine, Monmouth Township, Highlands East Township, Haliburton County, Ontario, Canadai
Regional Level Types
Dark Star Crystal MineClaim (Active)
Monmouth TownshipTownship (Former)
Highlands East TownshipTownship
Haliburton CountyCounty
OntarioProvince
CanadaCountry

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
44° 57' 39'' North , 78° 19' 31'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Claim (Active) - last checked 2026
Deposit first discovered:
1900 (approx.)
Age:
1000 to Ma
Geologic Time:
Dating method:
Argon–Argon dating (Ar–Ar)
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Haliburton Village1,149 (2019)18.5km
Bancroft3,838 (2008)38.3km
Nearest Clubs:
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
ClubLocationDistance
Bancroft Gem and Mineral Club and MuseumBancroft, Ontario39km
Kawartha Rock & Fossil ClubPeterborough, Ontario46km
Mindat Locality ID:
473414
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:473414:0
GUID (UUID V4):
0
Other/historical names associated with this locality:
South Claim


The Dark Star Crystal Mine's South Claim lies at the edge of Madill Road and consists of granitic and syenite gneiss, mica schist, marble and amphibolite of an estimated age of around 1100 Ma into which intrudes calcium filled vein dykes estimated to have been emplaced 930 Ma.

The site is found in the same general vicinity as the famous vein-dyke localities of Bear Lake diggings (now private property), and Titanite Hill (also known as the Gibson Road East Occurrence), alongside numerous smaller prospects and claims, it hosts a similar mineral assemblage.

Starting in the early 1900s the area was steadily prospected for uranium potential, phosphate (fluorapatite) for use in fertilizer, mica, and occasionally mineral specimens. Recently (2012), it was assessed for potential tourism use by the Bancroft Chamber of Commerce (as an extension to its Bear Lake Diggings site) from which recommendation was made that it held "great potential for development as a public mineral collecting site, administered by the Bancroft & District Chamber of Commerce, or some other publicly orientated tourist organization" (Chris Fouts).

The area first came to the attention of Dark star Crystal Mines in 2023 and they staked and performed assessment as was required. At this time, the site runs as an educational venue and rockhounds who attend the teachings can spend the day collecting under the supervision of Dark Star staff.

Minerals found at the South Claim consist of apatite, titanite, monazite, orthoclase feldspar, microcline feldspar, amphibole, zircon and biotite. Fissures run in an east west orientation under rolling hardwood surface terrain.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List


6 valid minerals.

Detailed Mineral List:

✪ 'Amphibole Supergroup'
Formula: AB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
Habit: prismatic
Colour: Black
Description: Each fissure either has pyroxene or amphibole series minerals.
References:
Michael Gordon CollectionIdentified by Mick Gordon: Visual Identification
ⓘ 'Biotite'
Formula: K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
References:
Michael Gordon CollectionIdentified by Mick Gordon: Visual Identification
ⓘ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
References:
Michael Gordon CollectionIdentified by Mick Gordon: Visual Identification
✪ 'Feldspar Group'
References:
Michael Gordon CollectionIdentified by Mick Gordon: Visual Identification
ⓘ Fluorapatite ?
Formula: Ca5(PO4)3F
References:
Michael Gordon CollectionIdentified by Mick Gordon: Visual Identification
Caver461 Youtube channel site visitsIdentification: Visual Identification
ⓘ 'Monazite Group'
Formula: REE(PO4)
References:
Michael Gordon CollectionIdentified by Mick Gordon: Visual Identification
ⓘ 'Pyroxene Group'
Formula: ADSi2O6
References:
Michael Gordon CollectionIdentified by Mick Gordon: Visual Identification
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
References:
Michael Gordon CollectionIdentified by Mick Gordon: Visual Identification
✪ Titanite
Formula: CaTi(SiO4)O
Description: Some specimens show transition to anatase.
References:
Michael Gordon CollectionIdentified by Mick Gordon: Visual Identification
ⓘ Tremolite
Formula: ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
References:
Michael Gordon CollectionIdentified by Mick Gordon: Visual Identification
ⓘ Zircon
Formula: Zr(SiO4)
References:
Michael Gordon CollectionIdentified by Mick Gordon: Visual Identification

Gallery:

ADSi2O6ⓘ 'Pyroxene Group'

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘQuartz4.DA.05SiO2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘCalcite5.AB.05CaCO3
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
ⓘFluorapatite ?8.BN.05Ca5(PO4)3F
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘZircon9.AD.30Zr(SiO4)
ⓘTitanite9.AG.15CaTi(SiO4)O
ⓘTremolite9.DE.10◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
Unclassified
ⓘ'Amphibole Supergroup'-AB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
ⓘ'Biotite'-K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
ⓘ'Feldspar Group'-
ⓘ'Monazite Group'-REE(PO4)
ⓘ'Pyroxene Group'-ADSi2O6

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
Hⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Hⓘ Tremolite◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
CCarbon
Cⓘ CalciteCaCO3
OOxygen
Oⓘ Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
Oⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Oⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Oⓘ FluorapatiteCa5(PO4)3F
Oⓘ Monazite GroupREE(PO4)
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ TitaniteCaTi(SiO4)O
Oⓘ Tremolite◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
Oⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)
Oⓘ Pyroxene GroupADSi2O6
FFluorine
Fⓘ Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
Fⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Fⓘ FluorapatiteCa5(PO4)3F
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Mgⓘ Tremolite◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
AlAluminium
Alⓘ Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
Alⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
SiSilicon
Siⓘ Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
Siⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ TitaniteCaTi(SiO4)O
Siⓘ Tremolite◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
Siⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)
Siⓘ Pyroxene GroupADSi2O6
PPhosphorus
Pⓘ FluorapatiteCa5(PO4)3F
Pⓘ Monazite GroupREE(PO4)
ClChlorine
Clⓘ Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
KPotassium
Kⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
CaCalcium
Caⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Caⓘ FluorapatiteCa5(PO4)3F
Caⓘ TitaniteCaTi(SiO4)O
Caⓘ Tremolite◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
Tiⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Tiⓘ TitaniteCaTi(SiO4)O
FeIron
Feⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
ZrZirconium
Zrⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)

Mindat Articles

Dark Star South Claim, Bancroft Area, Ontario, Canada by Mick Gordon


Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

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