Mineral Artwork

Copper

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Copper is a reddish-brown, soft, and malleable metal with a high electrical and thermal conductivity. Copper is used in things such as electrical cables and plumbing pipes. Copper can be found widely across Canada, and it is mined and produced largely in British Columbia and Ontario.

Sodalite

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Sodalite is a blue to blue-violet, relatively hard mineral named after its sodium content. Because of its unique colour, it is used frequently in jewellery and beads. Canadian sodalite is primarily found in Ontario and British Columbia.

Stilbite

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Stilbite is a mineral that comes in many colours from white, to red, to yellow and brown with a pearly or glassy lustre . Stilbite is used in materials such as laundry detergents, water and gas filters, as well as filler in paints and plastics. Stilbite is abundant in areas such as the Bay of Fundy and has been classified as the provincial mineral of Nova Scotia.

Labradorite

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Labradorite is a relatively durable mineral that appears dark grey with iridescent flashes of colours such as blue, green, yellow, orange, and red. Because  of its unique appearance it is used frequently in jewellery, but also has industrial uses in the production of glass and ceramics. Labrador is found abundantly in Labrador, after which it was named, and has been classified as the provincial mineral of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Apatite

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Apatite is a phosphate mineral with moderate hardness that comes in a variety of colours, commonly blue to green, as well as pink, violet, yellow and brown. Apatite is used for its phosphate content in the manufacturing of fertilizer and occasionally as a gemstone in jewellery. Canadian apatite can be found in Ontario and Quebec.

Chalcedony (Agate)

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Agate is a common durable mineral and a variety of chalcedony that occurs in different bands of varying colour. Due to its durability, it was traditionally used to make knife edge bearings and for decorative purposes. Canadian agate can be found in Ontario, British Columbia, and is classified as the provincial gemstone of Nova Scotia.

Beryl (Emerald)

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Emerald is a very blue-green to green variety of the mineral beryl. It is a common gemstone used in due to its durability and its stunning green colour. It is one of the four gemstones that was traditionally considered precious. In Canada, emerald can be found in British Columbia, Ontario, Northwest Territories and the Yukon.

Pyrite

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Pyrite is a shiny, gold to brassy coloured mineral also known as "Fool's Gold". It is an iron sulfide that is used for the production of sulphur dioxide for the paper industry, the production of sulphuric acid for the chemistry industry and in fertilizer. Pyrite is found widely across Canada in Ontario, Nunavut, and Manitoba.

Diamond

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Diamond is a mineral made of pure carbon and is the hardest naturally occurring substance known. Diamond is a very popular gemstone due to the extreme hardness, as well as their brilliant lustre. Diamonds are also used frequently for industrial purposes, such as drill bits due to their durability. Diamond has been classified as the territorial mineral of the Northwest Territories.

Quartz (Amethyst)

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Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz, a strong and durable mineral. Amethyst  is a popular gemstone for its durability and purple colour, and is used often in jewellery. It has been classified as the provincial mineral of Ontario.

Gold

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Gold is a dense, shiny, malleable and yellow precious metal that is very resistant to corrosion. Gold has been used for jewellery and decorative purposes for centuries. It is also used for currencies and as reserve asset. Gold is found abundantly across Canada and is mined largely in present day in Ontario and Quebec.

Carletonite

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Carletonite is a rare silicate mineral with a low to moderate hardness and often occurs in blue, white or pink colour varieties. Due to its rarity, it is often cut and polished to use in decorative objects or mineral specimens, and sometimes incorporated into jewellery. Carletonite can be found, only, at Mont Saint Hilaire in Quebec.