Dark Star Crystal Mines - Ontario Rockhounding, Crystal and Mineral Collecting
Dark Star Crystal Mines is a premier destination for Ontario rockhounding, crystal collecting, and mineral exploration.
We are located just south of Haliburton and west of Bancroft, Ontario, Canada's mineral capital. We offer collectors, rockhounds, and geology enthusiasts the opportunity to discover authentic Canadian crystals on our pay to dig mining claim.
Looking to Dig your own Crystals? You are at the Right Place
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Sadly we do not accommodate under 18, but the Princess Sodalite Mine does. When I was a kid I would come up to Bancroft with my father and here is the first place we would stop. Like us the Sodalite Mine is a pay to dig,and you can gather crystals from all over the world in one place.
Need accommodation?
Beautiful spot, 8 minutes from the Dark Star Claim, Click here for details
Ontario Rockhounding at Dark Star Crystal Mines
Discover more than just crystals at Dark Star Crystal Mines—we’re your gateway to rockhounding in Ontario, hands-on mineral collecting in the Bancroft area. You will learn as well as find. Explore our official merchandise store for Dark Star mugs, hats, and T-shirts, learn all about the Dark Star collecting experience and how to book a pay-to-dig crystal trip in Ontario. Dive deeper into Ontario geology with our Rockhound Series books on Lulu.
Come with us and experience rockhounding in Bancroft Ontario at the
Dark Star crystal Mine.
Left: This titanite was found by Chris Mallinson on the Dark Star Crystal Mines South Claim in 2025
Above: Cassandra and Chad found this (amphibole and feldspar) on the South Claim - Spring of 2026
Our season opens weekend of May 23 & 24 2026
Ontario Rockhounding, Crystal Mining and Mineral Collecting Articles
Explore Ontario rockhounding, crystal mining, and mineral collecting articles at Dark Star Crystal Mines, featuring expert guides on field collecting, tips for enthusiasts, and insights into the metaphysical properties of crystals and minerals
Explore the Rockhounding Articles at Dark Star Crystal Mines—your go-to resource for expert tips on crystal and mineral collecting in Ontario and beyond.
Explore our metaphysical crystal articles at Dark Star Crystal Mines, where rockhounding meets spiritual insight and ethical mineral collecting.
Natural Crystals, Rare Minerals and Collector Specimens for Sale
Shop natural crystals, rare minerals, and collector specimens from the Dark Star claim at Dark Star Crystal Mines, near Bancroft, Ontario, where enthusiasts can acquire authentic, hand-collected specimens straight from Ontario’s Bear Lake geology.
Dark Star Crystal Mines, rockhounding, Crystal and Mineral Photo Gallery
Explore our photo gallery at Dark Star Crystal Mines, showcasing the exciting experience of rockhounding, crystal, and mineral collecting on the Dark Star claim in Ontario.
Double click on main picture to open fully and see captions
Dark Star Crystal Mines Reviews and Rockhound Testimonials
Read reviews and rockhound testimonials at Dark Star Crystal Mines, where collectors and enthusiasts share their experiences collecting crystals and minerals, exploring the Dark Star claim, which is directly across from the Old Bear Lake Diggings, and enjoying hands-on rockhounding adventures in Ontario.
Chris F.
An "excellent locations for mineral collecting enthusiasts. The logging trail provides easy and simple
access that would assist with using the location as a public mineral collecting site.
It is strongly recommended that further prospecting and mapping work be carried out to explore the rest of
the claim, and to retain the mining rights here towards developing this claim as a public mineral collecting
site."
Chris conducted an assessment of the now Dark Star Claim back in in 2014 and though his findings just barely scraped the surface, he clearly understood that there was enormous potential there (as said above). Good eye Chris - thanks for sharing. Fortunately the Chamber of Commerce weren't paying attention.
Gordon B.
"Just wanted to share this image of one of the finds from your claim. It's a "beaut" even if just thumbnail size. (I kinda like this size because I can fit so many more specimens in my cabinet.). It was oxidized so it got a nice iron-out scrub.
Theres also a few shots of the feldspar that Patrick collected at the North Claim, turns out to be a gorgeous aventurine with a small twin formed across it.
I'll have a few more shots to send along when I can get back to my cleaning.
Take care guys - Gordon"
Gordon and Nad are big on the Ottawa-Montreal DJ scene. You always know where their crew is working as techno is blasting out of a fissure in the forest floor.
Rodney and Sabrina
Hi, Rodney here. We met a couple of weeks ago at the mine. I was with my wife Sabrina. We were at Dark Star this Saturday and were lucky to meet Mark's wife.
W bought our daughter Karissa and she loved it so much it sparked a fire in her to go more often and to go to school for geology.
You guys are super-nice people and we loved every minute that we are there.
Thank you so very much - Rodney, Sabrina, Karissa
Rodney and family are now frequent and successful visitors.
Work Cited
Fouts, C., 2014. Report on assessment work for Claim #SO 1500471, Lots 7 & 8, Concession 10, Monmouth Township, Haliburton County, Southern Ontario Mining District. Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forests, Geoscience Assessment Office, 17 p.
Rockhound of Distinction - October 2025
There are so many great people that come to visit us, but Jason stands out for his work on Hubbert's hole. We named the fissure after him and since he started the excavation, between his work and ours over 200 titanites have been extracted from 40 foot of trench. Thank you for your persistence Jason.
