Material from the pits dug so far has been processed
with a basic washing and sorting plant, built onsite
(figure 7). Part of this material also was transported to
Caiçara do Rio do Vento, where more than 20 women
sorted through 2.5 tonnes/day of ore, collecting 100–
150 grams of beryl/emerald daily (J. Amancio Nery,
pers. comm.; e.g., figure 8); this averages 50 grams per
tonne. An internal report by Mineração Vale Verde Ltd.
(Scholz, 2008) stated a figure of 10.5 kg/tonne, but this
was based on testing of only 127.8 kg of mineralized
rock. The production on the day of our visit to the
sorting area was particularly low, but material of better
quality and quantity from previous days was presented
at the company’s offices.