Note 19 — Chapter XIII · CIDADE DIAMANTINA TO OURO PRETO.

Martius, in speaking of the productions of Minas Geräes, says: “Almost every kind of metal is found here; iron-stone, which produces ninety per cent., is met with almost everywhere, and it constitutes in a manner the chief component part of long chains; lead is found beyond the Rio de San Francisco in Abaité; copper in San Domingos, near Fanado in Minas Novas; chrome and manganese in Paraöpeba; platina near Gaspar Soares, and in other rivers; quicksilver, arsenic, bismuth, antimony, and red-lead ore, about Villa Rica; diamonds in Tijuco and Abaité; yellow, blue, and white topazes, grass and bluish green aqua marines, red and green tourmalines, chrysoberyls, garnets and amethysts, principally in Minas Novas. But what has chiefly contributed to the great influx of settlers, and to the rapid population of this province, particularly of the capital, is the great abundance of gold which has been obtained for above a century.” Travels in Brazil, Lloyd’s Translation, vol. ii. p. 181.