Serra Pelada: What We Learned from Brazil's Historic Gold Rush

12 March 2025In 1979, the discovery of a 6g nugget of gold on the banks of the river surrounding the Serra Pelada in Para, Brazil, sparked a gold rush that would result in the largest open-air mine in the world. The mine drew in tens of thousands of artisanal miners and almost immediately the mine descended into chaos and became known for its hellish working conditions.Serra Pelada has since become a focal point of mining ethics.

Categories: Gold, Gold rush, history