OURO PRETO
UNESCO’s World Heritage listed, Ouro Preto, a 17th century colonial city which seems to be frozen in time and involved by the mountains of mines. It presents through its cobble-stoned streets, a large part of the history, not only of Minas Gerais, but also the whole country. The baroque style is ubiquitous throughout the city revealing works of art in houses, façades, monuments, and mainly at churches and museums. It was the first Capital of Minas Gerais and by then it used to be called “Villa Rica”, verbatim “Rich Village” due to the many riches in gold, diamonds and precious stones that were explored there. As the gold first found in the Tripuí River was slightly covered by a fine layer of iron oxide, the nuggets were blackish, hence the name “Ouro Preto” or “Black Gold”. Many at first took it for a “fool’s gold”. It was only by 1698 that some samples of the black nuggets got in Rio de Janeiro where they were examined and it was determined that they were actually pure gold encapsulated in a thin iron layer!
Ouro Preto is the only location with occurrences of Imperial Topaz deposits, which can produce it in a commercial scale. Thus, Ouro Preto and its mines of Imperial Topaz and gold make a new history, which conveys throughout the world the beauty of its natural reserves.
Capão Mine
The World’s largest Imperial Topaz mine is an outdoors beauty (Open pit mine!) and it is located in the District of Rodrigo Silva, in the city of Ouro Preto. It is the only mine which can produce such a gemstone in a commercial scale in order to supply jewelries worldwide, and processes 4500 m3 of rough material on a monthly basis. It takes 2 m3 of rough in order to obtain one carat of cuttable Imperial Topaz!
Imperial Topaz
Among the colored gemstones, it happens to be one of the most valuable because of its beauty and its rarity. The topaz called “Imperial” has its origins in Russia where the first mines were found and used up in the time of the Czars, hence this incredible stone was granted its nobility fit to “emperors”.
Passagem Mine
Located in Passagem de Mariana (hence its name “passagem to Mariana”), Mariana is another historical city of the Minas Gerais countryside. The Passagem Mine was discovered by Bandeirantes (Organized Portuguese settlers, gold diggers, slave hunters and raiders expeditions) in 1719 and ever since has been producing the finest gold which supplies both domestic and overseas markets in bars, pieces and jewels.
Mineralogy Museum
The Mineralogy Museum of The Federal University of Ouro Preto was founded in 1875. Visitors can get to see their displayed pieces of mineralogical samples, from diamonds to Uranium ore. Some curious samples like the flexible quartzite (soft stone), water-filled included quartz, stalactites, beautiful collections of Imperial Topaz, of quartz, of agates, opals and so many other rare minerals are also showcased at the museum.