Quartz (var. Amethyst)

This specimen is a fine example of amethyst from the renowned Thunder Bay District, specifically the Diamond Willow Mine—a locality celebrated for producing some of North America's most striking quartz specimens. The surface is adorned with sharp, lustrous, and translucent purple amethyst points, each termination exhibiting the classic red hematite zoning characteristic of this deposit. This effect is caused by microscopic hematite disks/spherules included just beneath the quartz surface, creating the distinctive reddish hue.

The Diamond Willow Mine is a quartz vein in McTavish Township, located on a claim at the northern end of Pearl Lake in the Thunder Bay District. The mine was named by Gunnard Noyes, the original owner, after the willow tree, which grows at the site. Noyes, along with his sons Doug and Clark, and later his daughter Francis, actively worked the vein. From the late 1970s, a section of the mine was leased and meticulously worked each summer by the father-son team of David and Ian Nicklin, who collected and prepared specimens. Their efforts resulted in some of the finest-quality amethyst ever found in the Thunder Bay District.

This piece exemplifies the remarkable mineralogy of the Diamond Willow Mine, showcasing both its vibrant colour and unique hematite inclusions—hallmarks of this classic locality.

Read the full report on these specimens in our following blog article here: https://djoyceminerals.com/thunder-bay-amethyst/