George Checks In From Brazil: Down In the Mines

Hi, everybody!

Jay is winging his way home and I am back in the gemstone rough buying mode which keeps me in Brazil for another two weeks. Yesterday I went to a mining site about two and a half hours drive outside of Governador Valadares. Once off the highway, we traversed a mountain on dirt roads that were cratered and cracked by rain wash. 

Mooooove.

The jarring journey paid off immediately as I walked into this great “salon” supported by a few pillars within the expanse of the mine.  I was with with the new owner, who is a true garimpiero. At forty three he has already been mining for twenty five years, along the way producing a large variety of gems.

George down in the mines

The vast majority of these miners put all their profit back into digging with the hope of striking it rich. Mining is in their blood and I am thankful this is the case. It is the small independent miner that keeps the gemstone business going and makes most of the new discoveries all over the world. In this case all the workers--including the camp cook--have some small share in the production.

 

Lunchtime!

We bought this camp's first production of dendritic quartz and the money from the sale will be enough to keep them digging for a while. Our lot includes some interesting colors that we have never seen--including a very pretty greenish yellow.

 

George and miner examining dendritic quartz in the mine

 

Another view of this interesting material

This mine produces other gems including morganite, aquamarine, spessartite, moonstone and a few other feldspars, so that is part of the reason we purchased this first production. We hope to keep this mutually beneficial relationship going. I guess we have the gemstone fever in our blood as well!

- George