Mines Saint John d'El Rey Mining Company

1 mines

1.1 morro velho
1.2 raposos mines
1.3 other mines

mines

morro velho around 1869


morro velho

morro velho in 1907

the morro velho mine in low valley near nova lima, 12 miles (19 km) belo horizonte. company invested significant amounts improving infrastructure, , increased production. first dividends paid in 1842. company encouraged british miners come work in brazil, , employed slaves until emancipated in late 19th century. after gongo soco mine closed in 1856 of cornish miners found work in brazilian mines operated saint john d el rey mining company. cornish formed majority of british miners @ morro velho, numbering 350 in 1860s.

a fire caused mine collapse in 1867, , took 7 years bring operation. in 1870s superintendent found engaged in fraud , had fired. rock fall in 1886 caused mine collapse again, , company went temporary liquidation. mine reopened , again became profitable in 1890s. @ 1 time morro velho mine deepest in world, 2,545 metres (8,350 ft) below entrance adit. after revolution of 1930 miner s union formed. strikes reduced production , infrastructure fell disrepair.

raposos mines

systematic exploration of area around raposos mines east of morro velho seems have started shortly before 1910. 1930 main lodes had been discovered mina grande , espirito santo lodes, both west of das velhas river, , morro das bicas lode 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) south of raposas on east of rio das velhas. 23,404 tons of ore extracted raposos mines between 1910 , 1928, 8,388 ounces (237,800 g) of gold extracted. mining @ morro das bicas suspended in 1930s continued @ other mines, important producers. of 1955 main lodes espiritu santo, mina grande , espiritu west, connected underground workings , had reached depth of 640 metres (2,100 ft). @ end of 1955 raposos mines had total reserves of 1,694,080 metric tons of ore average of 9.5 grams of gold per ton.

other mines

the company drove exploration adit in bicalho mine in 1925, , seems have opened lode before halting operations. in 1936 mine pumped out , exploration continued depth of 610 metres (2,000 ft). 36,800 tons of ore gave 8,238 ounces of gold in 1940–41, , 40,700 tons of ore processed in 1942–43. there no activity in 1944-45, 200 tons extracted in 1946, after operations stopped. company bought fernan paes estate west of honorio bicalho around 1863 , began working gaia , gabirobas mines. 5,777 ounces of gold produced between 1867 , 1873, after mining halted. exploration resuming in 1887 after morro velho mine collapsed, results discouraging.

the faria mine, 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) south of gabirobas mine, developed , worked french company short period around 1900. saint john company began pump out , explore mine in 1931. company started drive adit known locally gaia tunnel west side of rio das velhas @ honorio bicalho in 1934, running in west-southwest direction. meant unwater old gaia mine , provide access deeper levels of mine. in 1935 adit extended further west-southwest, , reached foot of faria mine in 1936. gabirobas mine pumped out in 1936 , explored 30 metres (98 ft) below original workings, , gaia mines explored 30 metres (98 ft) below gaia tunnel. there explorations stopped in 1937 due low price of gold. company continued develop faria mine, , began regular production in 1940.

between 1940 , 1947, when production suspended, 176,286 tons of ore milled.