Start of travels: Dec 02, 2010
End of travels: Dec 13, 2010
About this blog: This is a regular Stonebridge Imports buying trip and adptated for a guest from Australia.
We’ll be touring all around the gemmy mountains of Minas Gerais. Starting from Belo Horizonte, we’ll be going to the geographical center of the State of Minas Gerais, the cities of Curvelo and Corinto, where the biggest and best quality quartz crystal deposits are located. From there will be making a long loop around the mountains crossing the fields of Tourmalines, Aquamarines, Garnets, Topaz, Tourmalines again, Emeralds and finally the Imperial Topaz reign in Ouro Preto, where the tour ends.
Please, read the details as we post all the adventures of these endless excitement.
Belo Horizonte: Start Point
Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Belo Horizonte will be just a start point. If time permits we can visit
the paleontological caves around in Sete Lagoas or the Mineralogy Museum
in Downtown Belo Horizonte.
Mainly we’ll be heading up to Curvelo, our first stop.
Curvelo: Lemurian Seed Crystal Mine
Curvelo, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Thursday, December 2, 2010**
Lots to see in Curvelo, specially the Lemurian Seed Crystal Mines.
Corinto: The Heart of Crystal
Corinto, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Friday, December 3, 2010
In Corinto we’re going to visit mines of quartz crystal clusters and other activities, such as visiting producers.
Diamantina: History, Diamonds and Rutiles
Diamantina, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Diamantina is a piece of Brazil’s Colonization history, where the biggest and nicest world diamonds were found. Still produces crystal and we’ll see lots of treasures in rutilated quartz.
Virgem da Lapa: Tiny town, big Tourmalines!
Virgem da Lapa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Sunday, December 5, 2010
In Virgem da Lapa we can expect to see, collect and buy many treasures or tourmaline of all colours.
Coronel Murta: The Aquamarine Blue City
Coronel Murta, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Monday, December 6, 2010
Visiting mines and free lancers aquamarine miners.
AraçuaÃ: The Gemstone Center
AraçuaÃ, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Araçuaà is the center for the region of Virgem da Lapa, Coronel Murta and all the surrounding mines. In Araçuaà is also a major mine of Green Tourmaline and is located the largest producers and wholesalers.
Padre Paraiso: A pit stop for Topaz
Padre Paraiso, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Padre Paraiso is famous for its natural blue and white topaz, but the surrounding area is the major producer of Alexandrite, chrysoberyl, kunzite and many other gemstone crystals.
Teófilo Otoni: The World Gemstone Capital
Teófilo Otoni, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Teófilo Otoni was, and in part still is, the cutting center for all the production coming from the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri vales, that comprehends all the cities and towns in the area we have crossed and passed by. Therefore we’ll find tons of gemstone dealers and producers in the area. e The title “The world gemstone capital” was officially given to the city long time ago.
Teófilo Otoni is actually my hometown, where I was born and raised, and where the love for gemstone started. We can expect lots of fun in Teófilo Otoni.
Governador Valadares: Gemstone Mix
Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Friday, December 10, 2010
Governador Valadares is a relatively new city, but has grown rapidly. It is amazingly rich in Tourmaline and all other gemstones, such as aquamarine, quartz, lepidolite, and others. It is famous for the production of rublilite (dark pink tourmaline) and it is the only producer of the gemstone brazilianite.
Governador Valadares has been Teófilo’s Otoni’s competitor by being a cutting center of the Northeast of the State of Minas Gerais. Due to the latest world’s recession, many lapidary in Governador Valadares have been gone out of business, but we can find many large producers and wholesalers still operating in Governador Valadares, as well as operating mines.
Governador Valadares: Rubilite / Brazilianite Land
Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Visiting mines and producers still to schedule.
Nova Era: The Green Land: Emerald Fields!
Nova Era, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Sunday, December 12, 2010
In Nova Era we’re going to explore emerald rich fields and mines.
Ouro Preto: The Black Gold City
Ouro Preto, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Ouro Preto is the city where most of the gold of the world was taken. We’ll see there is still gold paners in the area, as well as visiting old gold mines.
Ouro Preto: World Heritage Site.
Ouro Preto, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil
Monday, December 13, 2010
It is not only the biggest and most important baroque architecture site in the world, but the only world’s spot for finding the famous imperial topaz. We’ll be focusing on exploring imperial topaz mines, miners, cutters and producers. Other minerals associated and found are euclase, kyanite, hematite, biotite and others.
