 Minas da Passagem - a gold mine near Mariana open for tours since 1976 |
 Entrance to the mine, Minas da Passagem |
 Incline railway that descends to a depth of 120m |
 Tracks leading into Minas da Passagem |
 Minas da Passagem was established in 1719 |
 The tracks are 315m long and descend to a depth of 120m |
 Descent into the earth - Minas da Passagem |
 Tracks inside a tunnel descending to the lower levels of Minas da Passagem |
 Minas da Passagem is the largest mine in the region with around 30km of tunnels |
 The gold mines of Ouro Preto and Mariana produced 700 tons of gold in the 18th C., half of the world's production at that time |
 Gold was discovered in Minas Gerais around 1695 - Minas da Passegem started operating in 1719 |
 A mid-level gallery tunnel, Minas da Passagem |
 Dennis riding the trolley down into the mines |
 In the 18th-19th Centuries, gold was extracted from the early Brazilian mines using armies of slave labor |
 Minas da Passagem operated from 1719 to 1954, then irregularly through the 1960's and 1970's |
 Arriving at the bottom of Minas da Passagem - 315 level, measured in track-meters from the mine entrance |
 The passenger trolly at the bottom of the mine |
 Mineral deposits - Minas da Passagem, Brazil |
 At its peak, Minas da Passegem produced 6 ounces of gold for each ton of ore |
 Pillars left in place to support the gallery roof |
 Pillars left in place to support the gallery roof |
 Dennis - Minas da Passagem |
 It's cool down here...17-20C |
 The rock layers 120m below the surface of Minas Gerais |
 Dennis - Minas da Passagem |
 For your safety do not cross this line |
 Pillar of rock left standing to support the gallery roof - MInas da Passagem |
 Pillar of rock left standing to support the gallery roof - MInas da Passagem |
 Tunnels lead off into the darkness |
 Minas da Passagem |
 Minas da Passagem |
 Mineral deposits, Minas da Passagem |
 Miners' Chapel - Minas da Passagem |
 Rubble piled up to support the right side of the gallery |
 Gold-bearing quartz, Minas da Passagem |
 Scuba diving is offered 120m below the surface - Minas da Passagem |
 Underground lake, Minas da Passagem |
 Underground lake, Minas da Passagem |
 Dennis - Minas da Passagem |
 Minas da Passagem is interesting and worth the visit |
 Mineral deposits - Minas da Passagem |
 Ready to return to the surface |
 The engine that pulls the mine's trolley |
 Old tractor, Minas da Passagem |
 Gift shop - Minas da Passagem |