Brazil's Gold Industry

Production, mines, companies and regulatory framework

Brazil is a top-15 global gold producer, with annual output of approximately 80–100 tonnes depending on measurement methodology. The industry combines large-scale industrial mining with a significant artisanal and small-scale sector (garimpo).

Production by State

StateKey MinesShare of Output
Minas GeraisParacatu (Kinross), Cuiabá, Raposos~30%
BahiaJacobina (Yamana/Pan American), Fazenda Brasileiro~20%
ParáSossego, Salobo (Vale — by-product), Onça Puma~15%
Mato GrossoMultiple operations, significant garimpo~15%
GoiásBorborema (Aura), other mid-tier~10%
Other statesSmaller operations + Amazon frontier~10%

Major Companies

Garimpo — The Informal Sector

Artisanal and small-scale mining (garimpo) contributes an estimated 15–40 additional tonnes per year beyond formal statistics. At US$4,000–5,000 per ounce, the economics of informal mining intensify, creating regulatory and environmental challenges — particularly in the Amazon basin and Indigenous territories.