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In 2000, I traveled to Rio de Janeiro to attend the International Geological Congress and took my daughter Leanna and nephew Ryan along. We had a great time in the beautiful country of Brazil and took a couple of field trips out into the mining districts near Rio.

[Image] Beautiful Rio on a cloudy day.

[Image] It was a bit windy the day we went up to see the view over Rio.

[Image] Garnet-cordierite gneiss outcrops near Rio.

[Image] Folded gneiss in outcrops near Rio.

[Image] Another view of Rio.

[Image] Alexandrite gem mine.

[Image] The day's haul of alexandrite from the mine.

[Image] Amazonite and tourmaline in pegmatite mine.

[Image] Geologists at the amazonite pegmatite mine.

[Image] Fractured aquamarine crystals up to 2 feet in diameter and several feet long in a pegmatite mine.

[Image] Our field trip bus stuck in a ditch in the road.

[Image] Leanna and Ryan waiting to descend into the emerald mine.

[Image] Our bus arrives at one of the emerald diggings where locals hock their gems to the visiting tourists.

[Image] Topaz crystals (orange) on conveyor belt sorted out of the gravels at the mine.

[Image] The scenic city of Ouro Preto, Brazil, an old mining town that now is a tourist destination and university town.

[Image] Another view of Ouro Preto.

[Image] Cobblestone streets in Ouro Preto.

[Image] Church in Ouro Preto.

[Image] Leanna at the soapstone market in Ouro Preto.