In 1988, a significant find of emeralds was made at Capoeirana, near Nova Era, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Hundreds of kilograms of potentially gem-quality material have been removed since the first pieces were discovered in July 1988. The nature of the biotite schist with which the emerald is associated and the gemological properties of the Capoeirana emeralds indicate that this occurrence is related to the Itabira (Belmont mine) emerald site, only 10 km away.
