Crowsnest Pass: Rockhounding in Alberta
- Minerals reported
- 2
Crowsnest Pass is a mapped rockhounding spot in Alberta, Canada. Reported finds include garnet group, almandine. Below: coordinates, access notes, and nearby spots.
About Crowsnest Pass
Crowsnest Pass exposes the Crowsnest Formation, pyroclastic rocks laid down by explosive eruptions about 100 million years ago in the Early Cretaceous. The formation is a mineralogical oddity in the Rockies: its trachytes and phonolites carry phenocrysts of melanite (a black variety of andradite garnet) and analcime, together with sanidine and aegirine-augite. It is also the type area for blairmorite, a rare analcime-rich volcanic rock named for the town of Blairmore and known only from here and one locality in Mozambique. Calgary Rock and Lapidary Club collecting notes list Crowsnest Pass as a garnet locality.
Plan your visit
Generally open to casual rockhounding
- Province
- Alberta
- Postal code
- T0K 0M0
- Coordinates
- 49.61896, -114.49443
Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground and access before you head out.
Land & collecting status
Generally open to casual rockhounding
Most public-tagged spots in Canada sit on Crown land or public foreshore where casual hand collecting is generally allowed in reasonable amounts for personal use. Confirm posted rules and local bylaws before you dig.
Collecting rules in Canada are set provincially and by land owner. Crown land and many public beaches allow casual hand collecting, while provincial and national parks are off-limits. Confirm the rules for this site before you dig.
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Get the appFound at Crowsnest Pass
- Garnet Group
AlmandineEncyclopedia →
Nearby rockhounding spots
Other rockhounding spots in Alberta within driving distance of Crowsnest Pass.
- LethbridgeAlberta · 120 km awayCalcite, Selenite
- Devil's Coulee Dinosaur Egg SiteCounty of Warner No. 5, Alberta · 170 km awayFossil, Dinosaur Eggshell
- Horseshoe CanyonKneehill County, Alberta · 230 km awayFossil, Dinosaur Bone
- Midland Provincial Park (Drumheller)Drumheller, Alberta · 240 km awayFossil
- Dinosaur Provincial ParkCounty of Newell, Alberta · 247 km awayFossil, Dinosaur Bone
- Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial ParkKneehill County, Alberta · 279 km awayFossil, Dinosaur Bone
Crowsnest Pass FAQ
Where is Crowsnest Pass?+
What rocks and minerals can you find at Crowsnest Pass?+
Is collecting allowed at Crowsnest Pass?+
More rockhounding in Alberta
See all 17 Alberta spots →
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