Epidote

specimen number:
2072285

location:
Capelinha, Minas Gerais, Brazil

description:
Prismatic green crystals of epidote measuring to 3.5 cm in size across the front of this albite crystal matrix. Minor titanite is present.

The Capelhinha area, located in the Jequitinhonha Valley of Minas Gerais, Brazil, is a prominent mineralogical region situated within the Eastern Brazilian Pegmatite Province. Geologically, the area is characterized by metamorphic rocks and complex pegmatitic bodies where hydrothermal activity has produced distinct silicate minerals. Capelhinha is well known for its epidote, which typically occurs as dense, highly lustrous, dark green to nearly black prismatic crystals that are opaque and non-gemmy in nature. Historically, mining and quarrying in this region began in the mid-20th century, primarily focusing on industrial minerals and gemstones like tourmaline and beryl. The systematic extraction of these specific epidote specimens gained international attention during the late 1980s and 1990s as several significant pockets were discovered. While many operations are artisanal or small-scale, commercial specimen mining has continued steadily through the early 2000s and remains active as of 2026. Today, the locality is considered a premier global source for these well-crystallized, lustrous epidote clusters, valued by mineralogists for their size and sharp crystalline form rather than transparency.

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