Gilles Haineault is a passionate collector of minerals and for more than 25 years he has exclusively collected minerals from the Poudrette quarry in Mont-Saint-Hilaire. His collection is made almost exclusively of minerals specimens that were self-collected.
Currently almost 360 different mineral species have been identified at Mont-Saint-Hilaire and many mineral specimens not yet identified are under study and could become new mineral species. This makes it one of the most important mineralogical sites in the world.
Many of the mineral specimens that have been found are considered the best in the world for the species.
Haineaultite is a mineral that was named in recognition of his contribution to the advancement of mineralogy at Mont-Saint-Hilaire.
Note: The color of the specimens on these pictures is representative of reality.
