Paracatu, Minas Gerais
| Paracatu | |
|---|---|
| Municipality | |
 Localization of Paracatu in Minas Gerais |
|
 Paracatu
|
|
| Coordinates: 17°13′19″S 46°52′30″W / 17.22194°S 46.87500°W | |
| Country |
 Brazil
|
| Region | Southeast |
| State |
 Minas Gerais
|
| Founded | October 20, 1798 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Olavo Remígio Condé (PSDB) (2013-2016) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8.229,588 km2 (3.177462 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 688 m (2,257 ft) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 84,718 |
| • Density | 10.29/km2 (26.7/sq mi) |
| Demonym(s) | Paracatuense |
| Time zone | UTC-3 (UTC-3) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-2 (UTC-2) |
| Postal Code (CEP) | 38600-000 |
| Area code(s) | +55 38 |
| Website | www.paracatu.mg.gov.br |
Paracatu is a municipality in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.
The region of Paracatu has been explored by Europeans since the end of the 16th century. In the middle of the 18th century deposits of gold and silver were discovered, and the area was settled. The settlement became the town Vila de Paracatu do Príncipe by royal charter in 1798.
The economy is centered on gold mining and agriculture.
In Paracatu, gold has been mined since 1722. The Morro do Ouro (Paracatu) open-pit mine is operated by Rio Paracatu Mineração (RPM), a 100% owned subsidiary of the Canadian company Kinross Gold Corporation. The gold content of the ore is comparatively low, about 0.41 gram of gold for every ton of ore extracted. Annual production is about 15 tonnes of gold and 5 tonnes of silver.
Kinross Gold owns the open-pit Paracatu gold mine operated as Kinross Brasil Mineração S.A. that includes two process plants, two tailings facilities, as well as accompanying infrastructure. This mine is the region's largest employer. In 2015, Paracatu produced 477,662 gold equivalent ounces.
Cattle raising is the main agricultural activity with 231,000 head (1996). The main breeds are: Zebu (Gir, Indu-Brasil, Guzerá and Nelore), Girolanda, Frisian and Brown-Swiss. There is also large production of soybeans, corn, rice, beans, and also some coffee. Paracatu is the commercial center for an area one third the size of Portugal. In 2006 there were 6 banking branches: Banco do Brasil, Itaú, Bradesco, Banco Mercantil, Banco Bamerindus, and Caixa Econômica Federal. The GDP was R$754,090,000 (2005).
In 1978 the municipality began to receive investments from the Brazilian and the Japanese government to develop the cerrado soils, through the PRODECER-Programa de Cooperação Nipo-Brasileiro para o Desenvolviemnto do Cerrado.
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Wikipedia