Forest Junkie
- 4 min read

CRYSTAL HUNTING

Where: All of Sweden

When: Summer

What: Crystal hunting

I've always had a fascination with semi-precious stones and crystals. Imagine the thrill of finding such a natural wonder in the wild! Well, you can actually do that here in Sweden!

I often watch videos by Swedish vloggers to practice the Swedish language. One day, I stumbled upon a video of a vlogger searching for amethyst in Värmland. It was just lying around for the taking! (I left the link to the video below.) I had no idea these gems could be found here, how cool!

I dug deeper and found out that here in this area, people mostly go crystal hunting for amethyst and quartz crystals. But guess what? There are many more types to find. I'll sum up the most common crystals and stones you might find in Sweden for you:

Clear quartz: Quartz is a common mineral in Sweden and can be found in Västmanland. This a clear variant often forms beautiful crystal clusters. Look for it in areas with granite and pegmatite formations.

Amethyst: A purple variant of quartz that can be found in certain parts of Västmanland. It's less common than clear quartz here, but is especially abundant around Ångermanland further north. Search in old mines and areas with volcanic rocks.

Garnet: Comes in various colors, but the red variety is the most well-known. In Sweden, particularly in Västmanland, you can find pyrope garnet, which has a deep red hue. This semi-precious stone is often found in metamorphic rocks, so check around schist and gneiss formations.

Topaz: Comes in various colors, including yellow, blue, and colorless. In Sweden, the yellow variety is the most common. Topaz is a hard and durable mineral. Look for topaz in granite and pegmatite formations in Dalarna and Västmanland.

Fluorite: Is known for its many colors, including purple, green, and blue. This mineral can be found in various parts of Sweden, including Västmanland, it is famous for its fluorescent properties under ultraviolet light. Look in limestone and hydrothermal veins.

Tourmaline: Black tourmaline (schörl) is a common variety that you can find in Västmanland. It is often found in granite and pegmatites. Search in regions with granite formations.

Pyrite: Also known as 'fool's gold' because of its gold-like shine, can be found in some areas of Västmanland. This mineral often forms beautiful cubic crystals in sedimentary rock formations and near hydrothermal veins.

Amazonite: Is a green-blue mineral found in Sweden, especially in granite rocks. It has a striking, bright color. Look in areas with granite and pegmatite formations, particularly in Västmanland.

Beryl: Sweden also has some beryllium-bearing minerals, like emerald (green beryl) and aquamarine (blue beryl). However, these minerals are rarer in Sweden. Search in pegmatite formations in Dalarna and Västmanland.

Labradorite: Known for its stunning iridescent colors, can also be found in Sweden. It is often used for jewelry because of its remarkable color play. Look in areas with gabbro and basalt formations.

Agates: Banded varieties of chalcedony that come in various colors and patterns. Often found in riverbeds and along the coast in Sweden. Look for waxy looking stones around beaches, riverbanks, and stream beds.

Jasper: An opaque variety of quartz that comes in different colors and patterns. Mainly found in red and brown in Sweden, although less common, jasper can sometimes be found in Västmanland. Search in areas with sedimentary rock formations.

Epidote: Is a green mineral that often forms in crystals. It can be found in metamorphic rocks in various parts of Sweden, including Västmanland. Look in regions with schist and gneiss formations.

Serpentine: Is a green mineral. In Sweden, it is often found in areas where ancient geological processes have transformed the oceanic crust, such as around Västerbotten. You might also encounter serpentine in old mines or quarries that that were worked for metamorphic rocks.

WHY ARE THERE SO MANY DIFFERENT VARIETIES IN SWEDEN?

Sweden has a unique geology that allows for a variety of semi-precious stones, crystals, and metals. Here are some reasons why these minerals are found in Sweden:

Geological Formation and History: Sweden lies on the Baltic Shield, a very old piece of continental crust that dates back to the Archean and Proterozoic eons (more than 2.5 billion years ago). This shield has a complex geological history with various phases of mountain formation, volcanic activity, and metamorphic processes that have created rich mineral deposits.

Explanation how glaciers changes the landscape

Ice Age and Glacial Processes: The last Ice Age greatly impacted Swedish geology. The movement of glaciers scraped the land's surface and brought many minerals to the surface, making them more accessible.

Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks: Sweden has an abundance of igneous and metamorphic rocks, often rich in minerals and metals. The presence of granite, pegmatite, and other igneous rocks in the country provides favorable conditions for the formation of crystals such as quartz, tourmaline, and beryl.

CRYSTAL HUNTING ADVENTURES

So Sweden has a rich variety of treasures waiting to be discovered. I found out about some popular crystal hunting locations through the Västerås Amateur Geologists Society website and the vloggers I mentioned earlier. We visited such a hotspot and... found nothing, haha. But we met some amateur geologists there who did find crystals that day. Learning more about the subject and known finding places might increase the chances of success. The amateur geologists society in Västerås (link below) could be a great starting point.

FINALLY

Always respect nature and cause no harm during your search. You can collect crystals that are lying around, but anything that lies in the ground or requires tools to extract belongs to the landowner and shouldn’t be taken without permission. Also, be careful when searching for minerals, especially in old mines and when climbing on rocks.

I may not have found clear quartz or amethyst yet, but I did accidentally find a piece of what seems to be rainbow obsidian with the volcanic rock still attached. It was such an unexpected and rare find that made my day! With some patience and luck, you could find an awesome gem in nature here too!