Navegadora claim
Penha do Norte, Conselheiro Pena, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Lavra da Navegadora
Key Information
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The Navegadora claim is in Penha do Norte, Conselheiro Pena, Minas Gerais, Brazil, known for spessartine garnets.
It produces minerals like albite, apatite, and beryl, with spessartine being the highlight.
The geological structure is pegmatite, formed through magmatic processes.
Mining started in 2003, famous for a large spessartine pocket, now a collector's treasure.
The area has a hot climate, with wet and dry seasons, and a mix of trees, grasslands, and shrubs.
Local culture includes Portuguese naming, with the claim sometimes misspelled as "Navegador."
Geographic Location
The Navegadora claim is nestled in Penha do Norte, within Conselheiro Pena, in the mineral-rich state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. Its coordinates are 19° 3' 42'' South, 41° 25' 14'' West, placing it near settlements like Conselheiro Pena (13.4 km away) and Aimorés (61.1 km). This region is part of the Conselheiro Pena pegmatite district, a gemstone paradise stretching over 110 km, making it a hotspot for mineral enthusiasts.
Minerals Produced
This locality shines with its spessartine garnets, famed for their deep red-brown "cranberry" hue and crystal quality, discovered in a massive 200-300 m³ pocket in 2003. Other minerals include albite, apatite, beryl (including aquamarine), birnessite, fluorapatite, foitite, garnet group, helvine, jarosite, mica group, muscovite, pyrite, quartz, schorl, and tourmaline, reflecting the area's rich geological diversity.
Geological Structure
The Navegadora claim is part of a pegmatite district, characterized by coarse-grained igneous rocks formed from magmatic crystallization. Located on the South America Plate, its structure supports the formation of large, well-formed mineral crystals, particularly the celebrated spessartines.
Mining History
Discovered in 2003, the claim, also known as the Navegador or Orozimbo claim (named after landowner Orozimbo Coelho), became famous for a mid-March find of a massive spessartine pocket. This event flooded the market with high-quality specimens, now prized by collectors, with research suggesting the garnets may be etching products, adding intrigue to their geological story.
Local Culture and Characteristics
The name "Navegadora" (Portuguese for "navigator," feminine) is often misspelled as "Navegador," with White (2009) noting the incorrect version is more common. The area's Portuguese naming, like "Lavra da Navegadora," reflects local culture, with the claim tied to the landowner's legacy, enhancing its historical charm.
Climate and Ecology
The climate is hot year-round, with temperatures typically between 60°F and 92°F. It has a wet season (October 25 to March 31, oppressive and cloudy, peaking at 7.9" rain in December) and a dry season (March 31 to October 25, mostly clear, driest in July at 0.2" rain). Humidity is high from September 30 to June 5, with January being the muggiest. Ecologically, within 2 miles, land use is 30% trees, 22% grassland, 21% shrubs, 13% cropland, with elevations varying up to 869 ft, supporting a diverse landscape.