Of the many mines hidden in the rolling hills of Ouro Preto, this is one of the first in Minas Gerais in the early 18th century. Dug by African slaves brought from the Congo, it extends at least 100 meters deep with smaller passages extending to unknown depths. Jefferson, the animated guide makes your R$25 visit worthy by explaining the nature of gold digging (finding a vein), explaining other mineral mined (magnetic iron, ochre - pigment of iron oxide), and equipping you with a hair net and hardhat for your safety. He tells colorful stories about the rich history and is great with taking fun, memorable photos. The mine opens as a mossy green trimmed cave with a nice house perched on the top of a steep cliff, where the mine owner lived (the height represented hierarchy) and the wealth was represented by the number of windows they could afford. Entering the mine, you see how narrow and claustrophobic it is, with damp and dark conditions. History explains how miserable the working conditions were for the slaves, chained and forced to work by hand, breathing in dust. They were also castrated and shorter stature slaves were bred to keep optimal physical conditions to work in the mine. Children were also utilized for their ability to work in cramped spaces and their loyalty to their parents (less likely to run away). You get to pick a bit of soft ochre from the walls and see the pigmentation changes depending on the chemical composition. Jefferson also shows you what it looks like in candle light by switching off the string of lights that light the path. Since I was small enough, I was able to explore a little deeper into the lower clearance channels which seemed to be endless. This is only advisable for smaller stature people with no issues of claustrophobia and strong legs for swatting (it's impossible to stand up due to low ceilings). But the regular section is definitely worth seeing. Jefferson makes the tour entertaining, though he only speak Portuguese. He also has a few rocks, keychains, postcards and other memorabilia for sale in the front, as well as restrooms. read more

See all