Location
1. Where are we located? How to get there?
- Amethyst Shop: Luostontie 4, 99555 Luosto. The shop is located right at the centre of Luosto, on the other side of the road from Lapland Hotels Luostotunturi.
- Ukko-Luosto parking lot: Ukkoluostontie, 99555 Luosto. About 2,5 km from the centre of Luosto. Google Maps: “Ametistikaivos / Arctic Ametisti Oy”
- Lampivaara café: Lampivaarantie, no street number. It is located in the middle of Pyhä-Luosto National Park about 5 km from the centre of Luosto and about 2,5 km from Ukko-Luosto parking lot.
- Lampivaara Amethyst Mine: the mine is located right next to the Lampivaara café on top of the Lampivaara fell. The mine visits start from the café. Google Maps: “Lampivaaran Ametistikaivos”
2. Can I come by car to Lampivaara café / Amethyst Mine?
Both of them are located in the middle of Pyhä-Luosto National Park and it is not allowed/possible to drive there by car. Local taxis and charter coaches may drive along service road during summer season. In winter, this is not possible as the snow is not cleared from the service road. Nearest parking place is Ukko-Luosto parking lot (2,5 km to the café) and it takes about 45 minutes to walk to Lampivaara.
Amethyst mine visits:
3. Is it possible to visit the mine without the guide?
Our mine visits are always guided and it is not possible to come there on your own. Mining district is a private area and it is forbidden to move there without our staff.
4. Can I bring my dog with me to the mine?
Dogs are more than welcome to join the visits, as long as they are behaving nicely and are kept on leash at all times.
5. How long does the mine visit last and what is included?
The duration of the mine visit is approximately one hour. It includes a story about the amethyst (how it was born, different beliefs connected to it etc.) and a chance to dig your own lucky stone in our mining area. In the winter, the estimated durations with transportation are: 11.10 standard departure from Luosto – about three hours, 11.30 & 14.30 standard departure from Ukko-Luosto parking lot – about two hours. If you start your tour from the Lampivaara café 12.00 or 15.00, the duration is about one hour in total.
6. What languages are the visits guided in? Can I translate to some other languages during the presentation?
WINTER: On standard tours, 12.00 tour is guided in English and 15.00 tour both in English & Finnish. From the 19th of February 2024, both standard tours are guided in both English & Finnish.
SUMMER: Tours start every hour according to the opening hours and they are always guided both in English & in Finnish.
We kindly note that translating to other languages is not allowed during the presentation so please do this afterwards, thank you.
7. Is photographing and videographing allowed during the visit?
Please feel free to take photos during your visit. Taking video of the info presentation by our guides is not allowed, however otherwise you can take videos freely.
8. Is the mine an underground mine? How is the temperature in the winter time?
Our mine is an open-air mine. Searching for the amethyst happens on the surface of Lampivaara fell. The mining area is covered from the snow and wind but otherwise the temperature is the same as outdoors. Especially in the winter, is it important to dress warmly.
9. Can I keep all the stones I will find from the digging area?
The entrance ticket includes one lucky stone that fits in your closed fist.
10. Can I buy some of the extra stones? How much do they cost?
Our guides will assist you with the prices of the stones. It depends on the weight and quality of the stones and what kind of a quartz stone you have. Besides amethyst, it is possible to find mountain crystal, snow quartz, smoky quartz and three-coloured quartz stone which is the unique find in Pyhä-Luosto area.
11. What happens to the left-over stones?
Our guides will sort out the stones and check if we can use them in our jewel production. If not, they will be tumbled or sold as raw stones. All the stones are in any case utilized in our production and they are not thrown back to the mining area.
12. I have a share of Arctic Amethyst Ltd. I wonder what kind of benefits are there?
The annual meeting decides the benefits for the shareholders. They include e.g. free participation to the Amethyst mine visits upon opening hours and 50% discount for the entrance tickets of two other guests joining to the tour. Furthermore, there are also discounts for shareholders in our company’s our jewel and stone products at the Amethyst Shop and at the Amethyst mine shop.
The Amethyst mine:
13. Who is responsible for the operations at the Amethyst mine? Is this owned by the Finnish government?
The mine is owned by Arctic Amethyst Ltd, a privately owned shareholder company.
14. Wow! A share would make a very unique gift for someone special. How can I purchase one?
Amazing, we think so too. You can buy the share on spot e.g. at the Amethyst Shop or via our online webshop: https://www.amethystmine.fi/tuote-osasto/mining-company-shares/share-certificates/
15. How does the location in the middle of the Pyhä-Luosto National Park affect to the operations at the mine?
Our mining discrict is surrounded by the amazing nature of Pyhä-Luosto National Park. However, the mining area is not a part of the National Park and we have the right the choose to way to operate our business. Respect for the gentle nature around us is a very deep value for our company and it is our choice to honour it by our eco-friendly mining operations. This is why we do not use any machines for mining or export amethyst as raw material.
16. Is it true that visitors are digging all the stones for the mining company to sell or to be refined into amethyst products?
Our guides are taking care of the mining operations during summer months, normally between May-October. Our goal is to get enough stones for the winter when the mining is not possible and the amount changes depending on the storage, but is usually min. 300 kg.
17. Do you have an online shop?
Yes, our online shop offers great selection of our local amethyst products such as jewel as as well as raw and tumbled stones.
Lampivaara café:
18. Is there a chance to charge my e-fatbike at the café?
Yes, you can charge it at the café (2€/time).
19. Do you have a menu for the café? Are the special diets noted in the selection?
The menu is not available online as the selection can vary. Coffee,tea and other refreshments are available as well as tasty doughnuts and sweet buns that are baked fresh every morning. We are also baking delicious salty pies.
All the products are lactose-free. Vegan products include doughnuts, vegetable pie and sandwiches upon request. Our products are made from gluten-free ingredients but they are handled in the same premises as the products including gluten.
20. Can I eat my own food or snack at the café?
Café is a restaurant facility so eating your own food there is not allowed.
21. Can I bring my dog to the café?
Dogs are more than welcome to the café, as long as they are behaving nicely and are kept on leash at all times.
