My love for minerals began in 2005, the first time I stepped into a mine in my home state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. I was instantly hooked—not just by the crystals, but by the thrill of the hunt. What started as short trips turned into years of exploring small towns, chasing even the faintest whispers of mineral finds. I spent countless hours with miners, listening to their legendary stories of once-in-a-lifetime discoveries. Their wisdom, humor, and deep connection to the earth taught me more than any book ever could. It was never just about the stones—it was about the adventure, the people, and the raw, natural beauty along the way.

The roots of this passion go back even further. As a child, I watched my father and godfather—who’s featured in Mineral Collections of Brazil—run a mine in Ouro Preto. I still remember the specimens in my dad’s office that first sparked my curiosity. Out of seven siblings, I was the one who stayed with it. When I moved to the U.S. in 2008, I went straight to the Tucson Gem Show. That spark grew into a career, and in 2021, I became a GIA-certified gemologist. During a time of personal healing, I returned to minerals with new clarity—working with trusted dealers, sourcing unique inventory, and building a small, heartfelt operation. Today, I continue this journey at my own pace, driven purely by passion. And even now, a part of me is still that wide-eyed 21-year-old, standing in the dust of her first mine, heart racing at the magic beneath her feet.