Hunt for Mont Blanc Crystals

The most prestigious find is the rare, pink fluorite, but there is a wide variety of valuable crystals to be found in the immeasurable amount of granite in the Mont Blanc area. The search for the precious treasures can be difficult and dangerous. Those alpinists who go into the mountains to find the gems, are called crystal hunters.

A Long History

In Chamonix, France, at the foot of Mont Blanc, crystal hunting has a long history. In the 18th century, it were mainly farmers who were involved in collecting crystals. The demand for it, for decorating jewellery, chandeliers and other trinkets, was high. Later it were mostly mountain guides who were looking for crystals. These days, “picking” minerals is often a family tradition.

Code of Honor

To prevent excessive exploitation of the mountain, amateur crystal hunters in Chamonix are required to report to the town hall and sign the code of honor. It states that crystal hunting is allowed, but only in a traditional way, so without helicopters, machines or explosives. Moreover, the local crystal museum is responsible for preserving the most beautiful pieces discovered in the massif. That means that every crystal hunter first offers his finds for sale to the museum, only afterwards the minerals can be offered on the market.

Yearly Trade Fair

The Mineralogy Club of Chamonix was created in 1966 and once a year the club members exhibit their most special finds and sell some of their crystals during the Bourse des Cristalliers, the trade fair for crystal hunters. The exhibition takes place sometime in the fall, at the end of the crystal hunting season at the Majestic Congress Center in Chamonix and is truly worth a visit. Come see it before the Haute Route or Tour du Mont Blanc Alpenwild tour.

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Portrait of a Crystal Hunter

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Simone van Velzen

In her work as an alpine naturalist Simone adds an exciting new dimension to your Tour du Mont Blanc trek with insights into the incredibly rich flora and fauna of the Alps. Simone studied Wildlife Management at the Van Hall Institute in the Netherlands. After her studies she left her home country (which is flatter than a pancake) and moved to British Columbia. In the Canadian Rockies, she discovered the astonishing richness of mountain environments. Her passion for mountain nature was born. And when she returned to Europe, she based herself in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, the perfect setting for exploring and studying the natural history of mountain environments. As an alpine naturalist she writes for outdoor magazines and leads excursions in the natural world.

If you step into the natural world with Simone, her passion for all living things—wild flowers to lichen, birds to mammals—can’t help but rub off on you. She’s excited to meet you on your Tour du Mont Blanc and share the amazing natural wonders in the Alps.

Latest posts by Simone van Velzen (see all)

• The Alps: A Biodiversity Treasure Trove - December 10, 2020
• Flora in the Alps – Spotlight on the Alpenrose - June 25, 2020
• Tour du Mont Blanc Hightlight: The Contamines-Montjoie Nature Reserve - May 21, 2020