Mina do Jeje


Useful Information

Location: Rua Chico Rei, 371, Alto da Cruz, Ouro Preto - MG 35400-000.
(-20.386041, -43.495358)
Open: All year daily 9-17.
[2022]
Fee: Adults BRL 25.
[2018]
Classification: MineGold Mine
Light: LightIncandescent
Dimension:  
Guided tours: L=160 m, D=30 min.
Photography: allowed
Accessibility: no
Bibliography:  
Address: Mina do Jeje, Rua Chico Rei, 371, Alto da Cruz, Ouro Preto - MG 35400-000, Tel: +55-31-98591-8375, Tel: +55-31-3552-1558.
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

1713 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 do Jeje is a rather new show mine, but unlike the other small private venues which were opened during the last years, it is rather well maintained. It even has a website, althoug thts mostly a prefabricated single page. At least there is some chance it still exists if you visit in a few years.