Na historical account of the Analytical Geochemistry in Minas Gerais, Brazil, since the pioneering work of Henri Gorceix, in 1881, is presented. The analytical work, developed by the Serviço da Produção Mineral and the Instituto de Tecnologia Industrial (both of Minas Gerais State), for the study of new minerals colled in pegmatites, for trace elements investigations and for geochronological research is described. The analytical support given by ITI in the study of the apatite and pyrochlore deposits of Araxá is discussed and the pioneering work of GEOLAB, the first commercial geochemical laboratory of the country, is emphasized.
Geochemistry; history