
Google Maps Mt Cheminis
We played tourist yesterday and drove to visit Mount Cheminis, or Mont Chaudron. It is a landscape formation of geological interest, and it sits at the Ontario/Quebec border, just east of Virginiatown. Reiner used to work at the Kerr Addison Mine in “V-town” 30-some years ago. Even though the monadnock or inselberg dominates the landscape to the east as you leave town, Reiner was unfamiliar with the sight. Or site. So, it pleased me that I, the geology newbie, could be the one with the fascinating details for a change!
Of course, before we reached the mountain, we made a few detours on the way. No rockhound worth their salt will pass by a new roadcut without stopping to check for mineralization!

New road under construction – according to our guide, it will bypass the town. Apparently, underground mine workings near the existing highway are threatening to collapse.
Reiner got out to inspect the newly exposed rock for signs of goodies – this is gold mining territory, after all. I followed along with the camera, thinking of you guys and how I’d caption my shots.
Just as we were preparing to leave the site, an ATV drove up. We bade the driver good morning.

“Are you a geologist? You look like a geologist.” Reiner for scale against calcite filling fractures in rock.
Do you want to see some gold?” he asked.
We followed him up to the far end of the work site. He stopped and said, “The operators found VG here the other day. Used to be a gold mine just over the top of that outcrop.”
“V” in this case stands for “visible.” VG is a VBD, in gold mining terms. (Look at me, all trendy and slinging the lingo like I know what I’m doing.) I found VP, or VFG. VP = visible pyrite. Bonus points if you can figure out VFG.
Onward to Mont Chaudron. Unfortunately, we were unable to take the road into the site proper. Only those with ATV’s can make the trek until the washout is repaired. Instead, we took the closest road parallel to the mountain, and I posed for the obligatory “Maggie for Scale” Shot. I cringe every time Reiner asks me to stand in for scale. First of all, I’m in my grubby rockhound clothing. Second of all, and more importantly, I prefer nature images that are free of human content. But in this case, I agreed that a “for scale” was probably a good idea.
Finished with our geology lesson for the day, off we drove, taking the long route home through Quebec. On the way, we stopped for lunch at a roadside rest area. I dread using these facilities in Ontario. I am happy to report that the stop in Quebec was two-thumbs up and a I enjoyed a VGP!
Categories: Mineral Collecting, Photography
Tags: Kerr Addsion Mine, mineral collecting, Mont Chaudron, Mount Cheminis, Virginiatown, visible gold
Oh geez, hoping someone else would have commented and guessed first on the acronyms.
I’m gonna go with VFG= visible fools gold??? What is VBD–visible ? deposit… Okay, you’ve found my weakness, I love acronyms! I used to drive my coworkers crazy in the dental office writing chart notes with tons of acronyms that seemed incredibly obvious to me. They never understood me 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
YES! VFG = visible fools gold and VBD = very big deal. Thanks for playing along!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Woohoo!
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL!!! Then you really don’t want to hear what my versions of the acronyms were 😈
LikeLike
LOL. Maybe not. 😉
LikeLike
😀
LikeLike
The ‘little guy’ is adorable. Hey, Reiner–let’s use him for scale!
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOLOLOL – “Let’s use him for scale.”
Ain’t the little dude sweet? He just poked up his noggin, and when he saw me, he just sat there and let me take my pictures – I was about three feet away.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well that’s nice! I’ve never seen gold in the wild, Maggie 😛
What’s VFG? I’d say fool’s gold, but then you found the pyrite and now my brain is stuck.
I had the pleasure of driving through southern Indiana yesterday, so I saw quite a bit of exposed rock, mostly limestone ‘course, and several signs about blasting zones.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If you’d say fool’s gold, you’d be right! (Chalcopyrite is another that is mistaken for gold.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, good 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for taking us along Maggie. I’m guessing it wasn’t gold or you guys might still be there. I like the little critter. Beautiful photos. Looks like you had a very nice day. We have s Mt Monadnock in New Hampshire.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for joining me.
After we left, Reiner turned to me and said that he didn’t see any sign of gold – that what the operators reported was probably just fools good. Otherwise, you are absolutely right – I wouldn’t be writing about it and we’d be back there today!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not a rock hound but I love the idea of checking for mineralization. I think of my husband’s brain, for instance. Your humour shines like gold in this post, Maggie!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀 – thanks Susanne. You are pretty handy with the “bon mots” yourself!
LikeLike
My grandfather was a prospector who came to Cobalt about 1915, even in the late 50s he wanted to stop at every rock cut along the highway. VFG was an easy one for me but I was sure that VBD stood for Visible Bear Dung something we watched for when picking blueberries…..
LikeLiked by 1 person
HA! I found some of your version of VBD on the outcrop behind our house, not far from the blueberries. We had a poor crop last year – haven’t been by to see how they are doing for this season.
LikeLike
Love your furry little friend……
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not certain, but I think the groundhog is a cub – or pup – or kit? Let’s settle on baby. It was a baby and that’s probably why it didn’t scare when I came in for the close up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Baby is good but I had to look it up. So many names for a groundhog but a baby is called a Chuckling. Who’da thunk it? 😉
LikeLike
Chuckling! I love that for a baby groundhog name!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too. Sounds so happy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great fun looking at the photos, it was like being there with you. I wish I knew more about rocks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Ron. I’m glad that you liked the post. There is SO much to learn about geology and minerals. And then you have to contend with all of the exceptions to the rules.
LikeLike
Did the guy who asked if you wanted to see some gold wear a trench coat and a trilby and talk out of the side of his mouth? “Psst…wanna see some gold…?”
VFG is what you shout when you find gold. “Woot! I found Visible F*%@ing Gold!”
Yeah, sorry, but my mind went straight there. 🙄
LikeLiked by 3 people
Hee hee. as I recall, he wore standard issue Northern gear. No trilby, sorry. But he had a lovely and friendly tan/orange coloured dog named Jake. If you squinted your eyes Jake looked golden.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re not alone – that was my first thought, too 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Heathers! That’s where my head went too 😁
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh, how I love a good VSP ! (Visible Scale Photo)
LikeLiked by 1 person
HA! VGC! (Very Good Comment!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
VGP (very good post) 🙂
LikeLike
This is too much fun. Thanks!
LikeLike
Loving all the “V” comments so I shall add VIP (Very Interesting Post)!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL – Thanks for playing along, Lynn!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I see that turnabout is, indeed, fair play. Reiner used you for a VSP (Visible Scale Photo) and then you turned around and used him for one…
The couple that scales together stays together?
And the little critter is obviously high up on the CSM (Cuteness Scale Meter)
LikeLiked by 1 person
You see correctly. Gravy for goose and gander. And VCC – very cute critters. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
VCB. [Meaning: very cool beans, of course.]
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL… of course!
LikeLike