Alexandrite is a variety of the mineral chrysoberyl, known for its color-change effect: it usually appears green or bluish-green in daylight and red or purplish-red under incandescent light. This unique feature makes it one of the rarest and most valuable gemstones in the world.
đ Where Did the Mining Start in MG, Brazil?
The most famous and productive discovery of alexandrite in the state of Minas Gerais (MG) happened in 1987, in the Hematita region, a district of the municipality of Conceição do Norte, near the city of Malacacheta, in northeastern Minas Gerais. Over time, other occurrences were found in nearby towns such as:
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Capelinha
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TeĂłfilo Otoni
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Itamarandiba
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Virgem da Lapa
These areas are part of the so-called Vale do Jequitinhonha, a region well-known for its gemstone wealth and strong mining activity.
⛏️ What Was the Mining Like?
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, there was a true "gold rush" — but this time for alexandrite. Hundreds of miners migrated to the region, and the extraction was mostly manual and rudimentary, using shovels, picks, and sieves.
The production was quickly sold to middlemen, including many foreign buyers — especially Russians, Indians, and Americans, who were well aware of the gem's international value.
đ Global Market Importance
Before this discovery in Brazil, the main source of alexandrite was Russia, where the stone was first found in 1830. With the decline of Russian production, Brazilian alexandrite became extremely important in the global gemstone market.
Brazilian stones are highly valued for their color quality and clarity — with some even considered superior to Russian stones.
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