Fairy Stone

Fairy stones, are concretions found on the shores of lakes and rivers in Quebec near to James Bay. They are formed of fine glacial sand and silt cemented together with calcium carbonate. They form in an oxygen deficient environment where various microorganisms go through a decomposition cycle. The stones occur as flat, concentric discs of varying diameters, each disc represents a different formation over time. It is suspected that the microorganisms live in symbiosis with roots and aquatic plants, and some of these imprints may appear on the concretions.

Canadian Aboriginal legends highlight these stones as bringing love, health, prosperity and luck. People offered them to their loved ones and some were given a place of honour in the home to ensure protection against bad spirits.