Tucked in a serene Whitehorse neighborhood lies a recently established community rock library. Unlike traditional libraries with books, this unique space is adorned with various types of rocks, including galena, gypsum, quartz, and even semi-precious stones like rhodonite.
Lee Pigage, a retired geologist residing in Whistle Bend, has a passion for collecting rocks, believing that each rock narrates a distinctive story of its formation and journey through time. To share his knowledge and collection with the community, he has set up a Geologist’s Rock Library on the outskirts of his property.
This rock library was a thoughtful birthday present from Lee’s son, Justin Pigage, who emphasized his father’s expertise in rocks and the importance of passing along this wealth of knowledge through the library. The inspiration for this endeavor came when Justin’s daughter stumbled upon a rock library in Carcross, sparking a shared family love for rocks.
Visitors to the rock library are encouraged to take a stone that intrigues them and leave one in return. The top shelf is reserved for unique specimens, such as gypsum from the Silvertip Mine in northern B.C., where visitors can receive Lee’s expert opinion by leaving a sample. Justin and his sons contributed galena samples they collected from Keno Hill during their explorations.
Recollecting his own childhood experiences of rock hunting with Lee while camping, Justin reminisced about the joy of discovering unique rocks in unexpected places. Lee highlighted that rock collecting is not just a Pigage family tradition but a hobby shared by many who may have a cherished rock they would like to exchange for a new one.
The Rock Library serves as a community space where individuals can engage with geology, share their passion for rocks, and explore the diverse stories that each rock holds.
