The mines we visited were small operations working veins of coarse-grained rocks known as pegmatites. The mining activities were directed at recovering gem stones and mineral specimens.
The first mine we visited was the Tina Velha Talhado. At the mining camp we got to see the general structure of a pegmatite and to enter the mine and see the working face. All of also were allowed to collect on the dumps where we got mica, garnet (spessartine), feldspar (perthite), amazonite, and bits of aquamarine. These workings were just beginning and had not hit a rich productive zone.
The second mine, the Chicão mine, was also a pegmatite that was operated for aquamarine. We also had a chance to enter this mine and see the workings.
The third mine, the Garimpo Talhado was a more mature mine and was producing much aquamarine.
We thank the owners and workers of the mines for all their cooperation.
