White Quartz Stone Row etc

“Quartz veins can be envisioned as metaphorical lightning and snakes. Indigenous people consulted by Conway (1993:89), reported that quartz veins were caused by lightning that had struck the cliffs. These lightning marks produced by the Thunderbirds enhanced the spiritual charge of the place. Furthermore, serpents have been depicted near or on these quartz veins, thus replicating the eternal battle between the Thunderbirds and the Underwater creatures (Conway 1993:90). Quartz veins could also stand for the underwater snakes. Owen reported that: At a point called by the Indians Wa-bi-se-gon, near the entrance to Nemakan or Sturgeon Lake, is an exposure of mica slate, with feldspar veins, …, which from the resemblance of one of the veins to a serpent, is regarded by the Indians as a manitou or god, and must be highly esteemed by them, from the quantity of vermillion bestowed on it, and the number of animals depicted on the face of the rock. (Owen 1852:318)”  https://www.academia.edu/38227844/Spectacles_to_Behold_Colours_in_Algonquian_Landscapes

Quartz veins could also stand for the underwater snakes:

 “Kitche Manitou wrought the mountains, the cliffs, precipices, and escarpments. Thinking that perhaps the massive rocks were too imposing and dark and grey and dreary, Kitche Manitou fashioned small stones, the size of plum pits and of brilliant hues of white, crimson, green, blue, yellow, amber, azure. He hurled these brilliant pebbles against the mountains and rocky sides of the earth. Immediately, the rocks and mountains began to sparkle.” (Johnston 1976:167)

 The shimmering inclusions are sometimes incorporated into the images. At the Mazinaw Lake site in Ontario, a Thunderbird seems to be clutching a vein in its talons, while the main panel at Fairy Point site (Ontario) is framed by quartz veins (Figure 4). Quartz veins can be envisioned as metaphorical lightning and snakes. Indigenous people consulted by Conway (1993:89), reported that quartz veins were caused by lightning that had struck the cliffs. These lightning marks produced by the Thunderbirds enhanced the spiritual charge of the place. Furthermore, serpents have been depicted near or on these quartz veins, thus replicating the eternal battle between the Thunderbirds and the Underwater creatures (Conway 1993:90). Quartz veins could also stand for the underwater snakes. Owen reported that: At a point called by the Indians Wa-bi-se-gon, near the entrance to Nemakan or Sturgeon Lake, is an exposure of mica slate, with feldspar veins, …, which from the resemblance of one of the veins to a serpent, is regarded by the Indians as a manitou or god, and must be highly esteemed by them, from the quantity of vermillion bestowed on it, and the number of animals depicted on the face of the rock. (Owen 1852:318)

 https://www.academia.edu/38227844/Spectacles_to_Behold_Colours_in_Algonquian_Landscapes