Lavras Gold said that it had embarked upon a “cultural education program” on the importance of gold mining to the development of the town of Lavras do Sul, near its flagship gold project in Brazil.
The initiative was launched earlier this month by Lavras do Sul Mineração (LDS Mineração), Lavras Gold’s Brazilian subsidiary.
The Rota do Ouro, or Gold Trail, is a route with five stations that each highlight an aspect of gold mining history in the Lavras do Sul community, the firm said in a statement.
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The five stations are:
- Estação Memória at Casa de Cultura José Neri da Silveira
- Estação Pecuária at Olavo de Almeida Macedo Exhibition Park
- Estação Water at Camping Municipal Zeferino Teixeira
- Garimpo Station at Caju Negócios Imobiliários
- Mineral Riches Station at the office of LDS Mineração.
According to Lavras, all community members will be able to tour the route, but the project’s outreach will initially focus on Grade 4 students in the town’s elementary school. Children will visit twice, once each semester, coinciding with when the curriculum covers the town’s history.
“We want this to be an interactive experience,” said Paulo Serpa, Lavras Gold’s country manager.
“At the beginning of the visit, every child will receive a passport that will be stamped at each station after a presentation on what happened there and why it’s important.”
The tour will end at the company’s offices, where a geologist will show some drill core and mineral samples and talk about Lavras Gold’s exploration program. At the inaugural tour, the 24 representatives from the community each received a small biodegradable jewelry box made from sheep’s wool by local artisans.
“We chose something connected to the town that referenced gold,” said Fernanda Carvalho, who created the Gold Trail and consults on social integration projects for LDS Mineração. “Inside we placed broad beans, which are native to the area and can be planted and grown locally.”
Lavras CEO Michael Durose will talk more about the Gold Trail and Lavras Gold’s community initiatives in a panel on Latin America at Mines and Money Miami on Friday, February 24 starting at 3 pm.
Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com
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