Zircon showing, Saranac properties, Monmouth Township, Highlands East Township, Haliburton County, Ontario, Canada

photo & collection Joachim Esche

© Joachim Esche 2008

Large brown Zircon from the Zircon showing. It is 2 x 1 cm. From M. Adamowicz collection.

photo & collection Joachim Esche

© Joachim Esche 2006

Here are a small number of Zircons that i recently collected at the Saranac Mine, Primary Zircon Showing. I found about 40 Zircons on my hunt but these are a fair representation of what you can find there. They range in size from 3 millimeters to 1.2 centimeters. The largest in the bottom left is the 1.2 cm crystal. all are brown.black & double ...

Metallic Molybdenite crystals from the Saranac Deposit. Collected on the path through the Monmouth Township Dump. Specimen is ~65 x 40 x 30 mm. THIS PHOTO IS A CLOSEUP OF THE BEST CRYSTALLIZED PORTION OF THE SPECIMEN.

Here is a small sample of white Calcite with metallic Molybdenite flakes. the sample is 5.7 x 3.9 cm. The sample was found in a calcite vein from the Zircon showing in Saranac Mine. The yellowish mineral might by Marialite-Meionite Series. From M. Adamowicz collection.

Here is a good closeup of the Zircon, it is 3 mm long.

Here is a 3 millimeter brown Zircon crystal in yellow Quartz from the Saranac Mine, Zircon showing. You can see the crystal surrounded by a radial fracture pattern in the Quartz. There is also another small zircon under the main one. The main Zircon also comes loose from the Quartz. From M. Adamowicz collection.

Here the entire sample with Zircon. It is 5.9 cm long, 3.8 cm wide, and 2.1 cm thick.

Three black 3-5 millimeter Zircons on matrix from the Primary Zircon Showing at Saranac Mine, Tory Hill. From M. Adamowicz collection.

A single earthy brown Thorite crystal found at the Zircon Showing. Crystal is 1cm x 1cm. Collection/Photo A.J

Here is a closeup to the Molybdenite in granite pegmatite. The sample is 5.8 x 4.6 x 2.1 cm.

Here is a small sample of metallic Molybdenite on yellowish Quartz from the Zircon Showing. It is 4.1 x 1.8 x 2.2 cm. From M. Adamowicz collection.

Here is a piece of metallic Molybdenite from the secondary zone at the Saranac MineZircon showing. Its 6 x 4.2 cm long. From M. Adamowicz collection.

A 8 millimeter black Zircon from the Primary Showing at Saranac Mine. From M. Adamowicz collection.

Single crystals of the Cyrtolite variety of Zircon. Traill (1980) gives the average composition of these Zircons (in wt %) as: ZrO2 61.0%; SiO2 35.4%; U3O8 0.75%; H2O 5.5%; total 102.65%

Here is another image of the Zircon. It is 3 mm long.

Earthy brown 1 cm tetragonal Thorite with typical brown Zircons in a thoroughly shattered Quartz matrix. Most of these crystals are recovered as single crystals because the radio-active shattering of the Quartz makes the matrix specimens fragile. Traill (1980) has an analysis of a brown to black, partially altered crystal with (in wt %): SiO2 ...

2.5 x 1.7 x 1.7 cm

© Maggie Wilson

Spherical graphite on matrix Ex Michael Bainbridge JR Montgomery Collection cat.#226

© JR Montgomery

Metallic Molybdenite crystals from the Saranac Deposit. Collected on the path through the Monmouth Township Dump. Specimen is ~65 x 40 x 30 mm.

Molybdenite flakes (standing up on the specimen). Specimen is ~30 x 30 x 15 mm.

Blackish brown Zircons ranging in size from 1-9mm on a very friable matrix. Formerly in the ROM (Royal Ontario Museum)The specimen is accompanied by an old ROM specimen index card dated Oct 13-1963.

© A.Debnam

1.7 x 0.9 x 0.9 cm and the smaller 1.7 x 0.6 x 0.5 cm

© Maggie Wilson

The sample is 8 cm x 4 cm. I personally collected it in 1978. Most of the brown REE-bearing Zircons occur in Quartz at the Saranac Mine that is very friable, due to overlapping Zircon shatter zones. This sample is stable as it has a 2 cm Zircon crystal without other Zircons in the immediate vicinity. The Zircon at the Saranac Mine has two ...

Zircon the crystal is mm 5 x mm 2 Photo with Canon Eos 600 D + Bellows + Rodenstock Rodagon 50 mm 1:4,0 reversed processed by Helicon Focus and Filter Photo and collection Giovanni Scapin

© Scapin Giovanni

Blackish brown Zircons ranging in sixe from 1-9mm on a very friable matrix. Formerly in the ROM (Royal Ontario Museum)The specimen is accompanied by an old ROM specimen index card dated Oct 13-1963.

© A.Debnam

Dark brown biterminated Zircon crystal Locality on label: Saranac Mine, Tory Hill, Ontario Ex Wendy & Frank Melanson (Hawthorneden) collection Acquired from Herwig Pelckmans

This was the largest zircon that I found while collecting there in 1995.

Exchanged with David Fryauff

© Dario Cericola

The largest crystal is mm 2,5 x mm 1,0 Photo with Canon Eos 600 D + Bellows + Rodenstock Rodagon 28 mm 1:4,0 reversed Photo and collection Giovanni Scapin

© Giovanni Scapin 2019

Exchanged with David Fryauff

© Dario Cericola

Zircon from Saranac Mine.

Here is the second location in the Zircon area, the Primary Zircon Showing. It is here where the vast majority of zircons can be found in the area. This showing is at the end of the trail that continues from the dump, & past the secondary Zircon showing going south.

Here is the Bears footprint. It was a big bear.

Here is a Black Bear that was exploring the garbage dump on the way to the Zircon Showing. And you thought you might not encounter one, there was another one roaming around also! The photo was taken about 30-35 feet from the Bear. He was a big bear but not much of a threat, his rear left leg was injured, he was limping.

Here i am showing the radiation reading i was getting of my Geiger Counter. This was in the Pegmatite showing of Saranac Mine. the radioactive zone is about 1-2 feet and you can see the rock looking rotten and darkened. Also the area is dug in indicating other rockhounds tried to get to the mineral samples but failed since radiation was so high. ...

This is the actual trench and its wall at the Saranac Mine Pegmatite showing. The steep wall exposure is about 25 feet long. Taken by M. Adamowicz.

This image shows the top rock of the Saranac Mine Pegmatite showing. Taken By M. Adamowicz.

Here you can see the dump material at the Saranac Mine Pegmatite showing. The material is between the trench & the swamp at the bottom of the hill. Taken By M. Adamowicz.

This is another image showing the top rock of the Saranac Mine Pegmatite showing. Below the image a few feet is an area of increased radioactivity. Taken By M. Adamowicz.

Here is the back of the Maynooth Garbage dump, the trail to the Saranac Mine (Zircon Showing) starts at the back of the dump on the left. Just go to the back and keep loking on the left side, you will see a trail. This trail will connect with another trail and they both will turn to the right to the showing.

Here is another view of the Bear.

This road indicated by a red arrow leads to the Saranac Mine Pegmatite Showing. The road curves to the left right after entering ad goes straight up to the showing. The entrance from Haddington road is located by blue markers on the trees. Taken by M. Adamowicz.

This image shows the pegamtite showing at the Saranac Mine seen from the north easterly end looking south west. The red arrow shows an area that is radioactively "hot". Taken by M. Adamowicz.

Here is an image of some of the rock that contains Zircons. this is located around the middle of the Primary Zircon showing. The image is about half a foot across.

Here is a closeup of the secondary Showing wall. The crumbling rotten rock contains a small amount of small black zircons. Watch out for bears though, its beside a garbage dump after all.

This looks like a massive amphibole/hornblende crystal near the trench. If it was smaller it would make a nice show piece. Note the rock hammer for scale. Taken by M. Adamowicz.

This the end part of the secondary showing looking right, away from the trail used to get there. In front of the showing is a slight clearing which looks as if it was used by ATV's. The area also has a major blackfly problem. Continue along this trail going south to get to the Primary Zircon showing, where the vast majority of Zircons are found.

This road leads directly to the Saranac Mine Pegamtite Showing. There are red & pink & blue markers on the trees. The entrance to the road has blue markers. Taken by M. Adamowicz.

Here is the trail that leads to the showing. The trail turns to the right.

This is the back view of the secondary Zircon showing cut. There is an open area in front of the showing. To reach the primary Zircon showing continue along the trail going south.

Here are some core samples near the main trench at the pegmatite showing.

Here is the trail that was used to get to the secondary zircon showing. The picture is from the cut looking left toward the trail with a bit of the cut showing on the right of the image.

Back section of the Zircon showing.

A decaying core sample pipe, at the Pegmatite showing. Near the pile of core samples.

Another core sample pipe, this one is in good condition. At the Pegmatite showing.

Entrance to the dump, the Zircon showing is way to the back by trail.

You will locate zircon and radioactives but you must spend the time. Also be aware bear are common inn this area. Circa 2009 - 2012 Please see my #28 article "Radioactive Reality II: “Bancroft Area: Radioactive Mineral Sites”

Follow the trail, explore these exposed areas for zircon, radioactives Circa 2009 - 2012 Please see my #28 article "Radioactive Reality II: “Bancroft Area: Radioactive Mineral Sites”

The zircon showing is easily accessed through the Monmouth Landfill. Circa 2009 - 2012 Please see my #28 article "Radioactive Reality II: “Bancroft Area: Radioactive Mineral Sites”