ICA Gem Tour, August 16 - 24, 2003
Join ICA for a Gemstone professional’s eye view of a fascinating country rich in gemstones and minerals... BRAZIL: Major emerald producer



Travel by private plane through Brazil’s famous mining states of Minas Gerais and Paraiba, as well as the top tourist destinations such as Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Ouro Preto. Enjoy the music and dancing, the breathtaking scenery, the tropical climate and the diverse cuisine that make Brazil one of the most fascinating and fun places in the world.

• #1 producer of amethyst, citrine and white topaz
  
• Site of the incredible Paraiba Tourmaline
  
• Source of the finest aquamarine, alexandrite and chrysoberyl cat’s eye
  
• World class source of green, blue tourmaline and rubelite
  
• The only producer of true Imperial Topaz
  

ICA‘s Mine Tours are for the trade: gemstone professionals will visit mine sites, miners, cutters and dealers, and come away with a greater understanding and appreciation of the challenges and extraordinary effort involved in bringing colored gemstones from mine to market.
Cost of ICA‘s Brazil Gem Mine Tour is $2,500, exclusive of international airfare.
Vacancies will be filled on a 'first come-first go' basis. Register Now !

ICA's Gem Mine Tour Brazil - Itinerary*

Saturday, August 16th, 2003

• Arrival Welcome lunch
• Guided tour to Corcovado (incredible bird’s-eye view of Rio)
• Bus tour to the Amsterdam Sauer Museum
• Dinner at a typical Rio Churrasco (barbecue) along with a samba and carnival show
  

Sunday, August 17th, 2003

• Visit Ipanema Beach, inspiration for Jobim’s "Girl from Ipanema” and Rio’s Hippie Fair (handcrafts, gifts) Travel to Belo Horizonte
  
• Minas Gerais Welcome Dinner hosted by Marcelo Bernardes of Manoel Bernardes
  

Monday, August 18th, 2003 - Emerald Day

• Tour the Pitera Mine, Brazil’s most modern and ecologically correct emerald mining facility; see emerald rough mined (tour not for the faint of heart!)
  
• Lunch at Belmonte Emerald Mine
  
• Visit fascinating underground operations and washing plant
  
• Travel to Ouro Preto and the 17th Century Pousada do Mondego
  
• Dinner at Casa do Ouvidor hosted by Wagner Corombaroli of Mineração Topázio Imperial
  

Tuesday, August 19th, 2003 - Imperial Topaz Day

• Guided tour of the world-famous Capão Mine, major producer of Imperial Topaz
  
• Sample typical Minas Gerais cuisine at Restaurant Deguste
  
• Tour Ouro Preto (Portugese for Black Gold), colonial capital of Minas Gerais; designated one of Mankind’s Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
  

Wednesday, August 20th, 2003 - Tourmaline and Aquamarine Day

• Flight to Governador Valadares, nationwide center for cutting and trading of precious and semi-precious stones and Teófilo Otoni’s rival as Brazil’s precious stone center
  
• Bus to the producing Mina do Sapo "toad mine” of superb green, blue-green tourmaline and cat’s eye
  
• Visit Mina da Cigana "Gypsy Mine” for aquamarine
  
• Family Dinner hosted by Clement Sabbagh of Ben Sabbagh Bros.
  

Thursday –August 21st, 2003 - Chrysoberyl and Gem Fair Day

• Flight to Teófilo Otoni, located in the Northeast of Minas Gerais. The city is home of most of Brazil’s precious and sem precious stone cutting facilities and Faisca its largest tradtrading center for both rough and cut gemstones.
  
• Bus tour to the world’s most famous Chrysoberyl Cat’s eye mine run by Mineracao
  
• Visit to FIPP 2003 (The Precious Stones International Fair) "The Fair at the Source” is the major gem fair in Latin America. Here, rough and cut stones are bought directly from local producers, miners and cutters.
  
• Presentation on the history of gemstone mining, cutting and trading in the Northeastern region of Minas Gerais by the President of GEA (Gems Exporters Association)
  
• Dinner hosted by Sérgio Martins of Stone World
  

Friday – August 22nd, 2003 - Paraíba Tourmaline Day

• Flight to Campina Grande, Paraíba State
  
• Trip to Mina da Batalha, São José da Batalha, where Paraíba Tourmaline was discovered in 1982
  
• Lunch at Batalha Mine hosted by founder Heitor Barbosa
  
• Exploration of the mine’s primary deposit, tunnels, shafts and recovery plant, as well as surrounding secondary deposit and washing plant
  

Saturday – August 23rd, 2003

• Flight to Salvador, Bahia State, one of Brazil’s major tourist destinations: birthplace of afro culture in Brazil, rich in music, rythms, folklore and cuisine, the 450 year old city offers historical sights and Baroque architecture. Stay at 5-star Hotel Catuçaba at Itapuã beach, theme of Caymi songs
  
• Lunch with folk music and dance at Pomerô, Pelourinho, hosted by Roberto Simon of Simon Joalheiros
  
• Guided tour to Pelourinho, landmark of Brazil’s abolition movement; the 17th cent. pillory now symbolize freedom.
  
• Dinner at Yemanjá, renowned for Bahian-style seafood
  

Sunday – August 24th, 2003

• Flight to Rio de Janeiro. The ICA/Brazil Gem Tour ends.
  

The price for this Brazilian Gem Mine Tour is $2500, exclusive of international airfare.

Interested in ICA’s Brazil Gem Mine Tour? Download the Information- and Registration form (PDF) fill it in and mail or fax it to the ICA Headoffice.
ICA
19 West 21st St., Ste. 705
New York, NY 10010, USA
FAX: +1-212-352-9054

* ICA reserves the right to make changes in the announced itinerary.