Mina de Ouro Santa Rita


Useful Information

Location: R. Santa Rita, 171, Ouro Preto MG.
(-20.386580, -43.493120)
Open: All year Tue-Sat 9-18, Sun 9-13.
[2022]
Fee: Adults BRL 60, Children BRL 30.
[2022]
Classification: MineGold Mine
Light: LightIncandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:  
Guided tours: L=115 m.
Photography: allowed
Accessibility: no
Bibliography:  
Address: Mina de Ouro Santa Rita, R. Santa Rita, 171, Ouro Preto MG 35400-000, Cell: +55-31-98280-6607. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

18th century mine opened.

Geology

Ouro Prêto sits right on an outcrop of banded iron formation. This formation is a sedimentary rock with many layers of iron ore, often altered to iron oxide especially ochre. There are also copper deposits, which sometimes are transformed to malachite. The dark rocks were the reason for its name Ouro Prêto which means black gold as a reference to the dark colour of the local gold, which contains a lot of iron oxides. However, the gold is mostly bound to gold bearing quartz veins, not to the iron.

Description

Mina de Ouro Santa Rita is named after rua Santa Rita, where it is located. There are numerous show mines in the town, this seems to be a rather new addition.