Unmarked Beach (Near Roussain Island)

Ontario

Find: Feldspar/calcite, unakite, zeolites, colorful granites, hematite

GPS: 46.992643, -84.787725

Nearest city: Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Recommended Vehicle: Any

Summary:

This is a spot just North of Sawpit Bay, which is one of the more popular spots on the seldom-visited Eastern shore of Lake Superior. The coordinates for this beach don’t have a listed name or any signage, so I tagged Roussain Island in the name which is nearby just to the South by 1km or so.

If you venture out here in waders, be very careful of your footing. In the video, I walked around extensively out there but it was slippery and there were jagged edges to the basement rock. Nonetheless, there are beautiful volcanic intrusions that create orange stripes that you can see through the water. They extend far under the landscape and even further into the depths of Superior.

There is a well-worn footpath to come down here if you head South on the Trans Canada Highway and park your car on the shoulder of the road. As I pulled in, there was another family on their way out.

Video Guide

Check out the video to best see what can be found when exploring this spot.

The view from the nearby Highway 17

The view from the nearby Highway 17

Some water-tumbled hematite

Some water-tumbled hematite

There are long veins that extend both under the shore and deep out to Lake Superior.

There are long veins that extend both under the shore and deep out to Lake Superior.

Unsure on a specific ID but this looks like a portion of the orange and white veins that flow through the bedrock.

Unsure on a specific ID but this looks like a portion of the orange and white veins that flow through the bedrock.

This looks like a zeolite of some sort - maybe thomsonite? Didn't think you could find it in Ontario.

This looks like a zeolite of some sort - maybe thomsonite? Didn't think you could find it in Ontario.

This appears to be some of the same material that's in the veins. There's some bands and fortification, but I don't think it's a Lake Superior agate.

This appears to be some of the same material that's in the veins. There's some bands and fortification, but I don't think it's a Lake Superior agate.