Brazil is a country in South America, the fifth largest country by geographical area, occupying nearly half of South America, the fifth most populous country, and the fourth most populous democracy in the world. Brazil has the largest population of Italian origin outside Italy, with over 25 million Italian Brazilians, the largest population of Japanese origin outside Japan, with 1.6 million Japanese Brazilians, and the second largest population of German origin outside of Germany, with 12 million German Brazilians.
Gold and diamond deposits have been mined in the modern-day state of Minas Gerais since the 1700's.
Brazil is the classical country of tourmalines. Members of this splendid gemstone group come in practically all the colors of the rainbow. For a long time, however, a radiant turquoise was lacking - that is, until the discovery of that precious deposit in Paraiba. "Paraíba" tourmaline takes its name from the Brazilian state where it was discovered in 1987. Other stones have entered the market of similar chemical composition but originating in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, Nigeria and Mozambique.
