GOVERNADOR VALADARES
This city located at the banks of Rio Doce river is worldwide known by its natural beauties: Precious stones and the Ibituruna Peak. Such a region, in which the world’s largest pegmatite body is concentrated, consequently encompasses the biggest deposits of gemstones produced in Brazil and in the world. The city of Governador Valadares has as its main activity the focus on trade and service sectors and welcomes gem dealers and jewelry-making industry businessmen throughout the year.
Ibituruna Peak
Located at 1,123 meters above sea level, The Ibituruna Peak is the main tourist attraction to those who know the City of Governador Valadares. One of the best places in the world for the practice of hang-gliding and paragliding; the city is also known by its hot springs and by its tropical weather during almost the whole year. The Ibituruna Peak attracts sports aficionados from all places in the world and both national and international hang-gliding and paragliding competitions are held in the city.
Itaiaia mine
The Itatiaia Mine in Conselheiro Pena, Minas Gerais, is a medium sized pegmatite that begun its operation in 1942 for the production of industrial mica, quartz and beryl. Tourmalines of different colors (red, green and bi-colored), and slightly bluish, greenish or yellowish beryls of gemological quality are also found.
In 2010 Geometa Ltda, the mining company that now owns the rights over the area, found the first emeralds when they were digging a shaft following a subvertical lense of a biotite-phlogopite schist with a proven chromium ano-maly, in the search for the so long sought after emeralds. The crystals were analyzed by independent gemologists and a report was issued confirming them as emeralds.
Cruzeiro Mine
The world's largest Tourmaline mine
The actual deposit of the mine in the Cruzeiro area, São José da Safira, three hours driving from Valadares, was discovered in 1915, and the first mining lease was established in 1938. In the 1940’s, with the advent of World War II and the great demand for mica by allied countries, the US government was greatly interested in exploring the mica deposits in the Cruzeiro area to meet these needs.
Mining for tourmaline began with commercial purposes in the 1950’s, when Jose Neves and his brother Antonio De Assis Neves started what is now the Cruzeiro Mine. Currently, the mining operation is very successful. The mine produces an annual average of eight tons of tourmaline in its most diverse colors and qualities.
Cruzeiro Tourmaline rough
Rubelite
Bicolor Tourmaline
