Mont Lyall agate mine

Visit this open-pit mine to become a prospector for a day and find beautiful semi-precious stones such as agates, amethysts, carnelians and jaspers. Located in a 350-million-year-old volcano, this mine is right next to the Réserve faunique des Chic-Chocs.

Training and tools

All the training and tools you will need to make great discoveries are included. Be sure to wear good shoes and bring your lunch or a snack. The site offers a picnic area as well as two diamond saws for cutting your gems. Plan to spend 2 or 3 hours on this activity, which you can enjoy rain or shine.

There is also a gift shop on site.

How to get there

From Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, drive south on Route 299 for about 58 km to the road leading to Sainte-Anne Lake and Murdochville (Route du Lac-Sainte-Anne). Drive for about 1.5 km on this gravel road; you will then see a track on your right leading to the mine.

From New Richmond, head north on Route 299 for 85 km, then follow the same directions as above.

If you are driving from Sainte-Anne-des-Monts or New Richmond, please disregard the signs for the Lac Sainte-Anne detour, since access to the mine is not affected by this roadwork. Only people wanting to access the cabins in the Réserve faunique des Chic-Chocs and those driving from Gaspé or Murdochville are affected by this detour. The only way to get to the mine in the summer is via Route 299 in Parc national de la Gaspésie.

Open: June 25 to September 3, 2023, daily, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Prospecting ends at 4 p.m.; stone cutting ends at 5 p.m., which is also when the gift shop closes.

Plan to arrive by 2 p.m. at the latest to have time to enjoy this activity fully.

Rates: 

• $39/first adult engaged in prospecting activity (including training and tools)
• $13/second adult $8/child (aged 6-16)
• Free for children under 5
• Stone cutting: $5 to $30 depending on the size of the stone (no charge for stones that don’t contain gems)
• Payment in cash or by credit card (Visa or Mastercard)
• Taxes included in all rates

You can be served in English, and translated materials are available.

• ÂPet-friendly
• ±Regional products sold on-site
• hPicnic area