Princess Sodalite Mine Rock Shop

- Local and Worldwide Mineral and Fossil Specimens
- Rock Farm Collecting
- Canadian Soapstone Carvings
- Silver and Gemstone Jewellery
- Rock Crafts & Gifts

A Bit of History

As you make your way down the path towards the rock farm, you are walking past a rock face on your right that was a part of one of Bancroft's most interesting mining operations - the quarrying of the deep blue mineral called sodalite.

Today, sodalite is commonly used in the creation of jewelry and as an ornamental stone. It is also the mineral most people associate with the uniqueness of the Bancroft region's mineral heritage.

The pieces of sodalite you will find in the rock farm vary in the intensity of blue. Look for pieces that are a deep blue colour. Surrounding the mineral you will usually find a grayish-white mineral called nepheline. Nepheline syenite gneiss (pronounced "nice") is the main rock which surrounds you.

Since 1961, when the site was first opened to collectors, visitors have been made welcome. Andy Christie, the current owner, will do his best to make your visit a worthwhile experience. Good collecting!

The Rock Farm

Several years ago, when Andy Christie bought the property, a small "rock farm" was already in place. Andy felt there needed to be a place for young people to actually pick over a large number of rock and mineral pieces until they found the samples they wanted to take home with them and so the rock farm was expanded to its current size - a place where collectors both young and old could harvest a vast variety of specimens and do it at a price that was affordable.

What You Might Find at the Farm

The rock farm is always changing; new "crops" are added while others are being collected. But there are some rocks and minerals which you can find most of the time at the farm.