Although Ouro Preto now relies heavily on the tourism industry for part of its economy there are important metallurgic and mining industries located in town such as Novelis formerly Alcan the most important aluminum factory in the country the Companhia Vale do Rio Doce and others. Main economic activities are tourism transformation industries and mineral riches such as deposits of iron bauxite manganese talc and marble. Minerals of note are gold hematite dolomite tourmaline pyrite muscovite topaz and imperial topaz. The imperial topaz is a stone only found in Ouro Preto. Soapstone handicraft items are a popular souvenir among tourists and can be found in many shops in the town centre and street fairs.
