This mining district lies mainly within the administrative region of Kayes, and is itself subdivided into four mining provinces:

• Guidimaka - north (of Kayes)
• Nioro - northeast
• Kéniéba - south
• Bafoulabé and Kita - southeast

• Guidimaka (north of Kayes) This region corresponds to the Birrimian window, and inventory work that was conducted over this province has led to the discovery of gold occurrences in Nreilat, Melgué, Sarero, Gori, Fodié, Dag-Dag, Ségué andYélimané.
• Nioro (northeast of Kayes) The following mineral occurrences have been encountered: copper, albeit with a grade seldom higher than 1% Cu, garnet (traditionally extracted in the vicinity of Sibinndi-Sangafé) and fl uorine (in the area located between Bouli and Ségué).
• Kéniéba (south of Kayes) This is the most investigated mining province in Mali, and the following gold occurrences have been encountered:
  • Sadiola:75 km south of Kayes, this deposit contains over 8 Moz of gold, with a production of 442,000 oz in 2005. Mining activities started in 1996.
  • Yatela:55 km from Kayes, with an estimated reserve of 1.5 Moz of gold. Production started in 2001 and reached 246,000 oz in 2005.
  • Dioulafoundou:15 km to the north of Kéniéba
  • Farabantourou:An exploration permit that is located to the south of Sadiola, with reserves estimated at 20 t of gold.
  • Loulo and Yalea:20 km to the north of Kéniéba, these deposits contain over 10 Moz of gold, and are in production by Randgold Resources.
  • Médinandi:With 4 t of proven gold (in 1964), this deposit is 35 km to the southeast of Kéniéba.
  • Tabakoto and Segala:Mali's newest mine is 15 km north of Kéniéba, and contains over 1.2 Moz of gold.
  • Tintiba:To the north of Kéniéba.
  • Wili-Wili Mamoudouya Komé:These deposits are 65 km to the south of Kéniéba.
  • Other gold occurrences at Dandogo, Sitakily and Diangounté.
  Various works has led to the discovery of 20 kimberlite pipes, of which eight are reported to contain diamonds. There is also an iron-ore deposit at Djidian Kenieba, 30 km to the northwest of Kéniéba, containing 10 Mt, at 40% Fe and 17% SiO2. Uranium occurrences are known at Faléa, located 80 km to the south of Kéniéba, containing 5,000 t U3O8, and at Loulo.
• Bafoulabé-Kita (southeast of Kayes)Several limestone and marble deposits have been identified. There are also deposits of iron ore at Diamou and Bale. The former contains about 150 Mt of ore 50 km to the west of Bafoulabé. Bale is located 100 km to the south of Kita near the border with Guinea. Ore reserves are estimated at 1.2 Mt.
  
  There are also bauxite deposits 100 km to the southwest of Bamako, some 200 km from the border with Guinea. Reserves are estimated at about 1.2 Mt but the exploitation of the iron and bauxite deposits in this region is impaired by its remoteness and lack of electrical power.

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This district corresponds to the southern region of Koulikoro and Sikasso. Mineral deposits in this region include gold occurrences at:

• Yanfolila
  • Balé:Northeast of Kalana, this deposit has a claim for exploration and development.
  • Foulaboula:In the Yanfolila subdivision
  • Kalaka:North of Kolondiéba. Awaiting development
  • Kalana:South of Yanfolila. This deposit was the first industrially exploited gold in Mali but was closed in 1991. It was brought back into production in 2004.
  • Kobada:40 km to the south of Kangaba
  • Kodieran:North of Kalana with 81 t of proven gold. An exploitation permit has been granted to Wasoul'or but the mine is still to be opened.
• Bougouni
  • Kekoro:35 km to the west of Morila, this deposit has been granted a permitting process.
  • Morila:280 km to the southeast of Bamako. The deposit contains 5.0 Moz of gold. A mine has been in operation since 2000, and currently produces 650,000 oz/y.
  • Nampala and Darabougou:Awaiting development
  • Sagala:North of Bougouni and about 50 km to the west of the Morila mine.
• Kadiolo
• Misséni Flat:Contains about 3.5 t of gold, 75 km to the southwest of Kadiolo.
• Pitiangouma:South of Misséni (subdivision of Kadiolo)
• Syama:60 km from the administrative subdivision of Kadiolo, this mine is being brought back into production by Resolute Resources. The deposit contains over 6 Moz of gold.
• Kangaba
  • Banancoro:South of Kangaba, this cluster of mineralisations is owned by New Gold Mali, which has identifi ed 17 t of gold.

The region also contains occurrences of nickel and platinum at Touban (located about 20 km from Kadiolo and awaiting development) and lead-zinc at Dogo (60 km to the northeast of Bougouni).

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Administratively, this region corresponds to the regions of Gao, Kidal and Timbuctu. The following deposits and mineralisations have been identified:

• Ansongo
  • Fafa:Other lead-zinc occurrences are 40 km to the southeast of Ansongo.
  • Ouatagouna-Labbézanga:Copper mineralisation is located 140 km southeast of Ansongo
  • Tassiga:30 km to the southeast of Ansongo, the deposit has an estimated magnesite reserve of 15 Mt at 30-50% Mn
  • Tondibi Agaula and Ofalikin:Manganese mineralisation occurs 20 km and 60 km to the southeast and southwest of Ansongo, respectively
• Tessalit
  • In Darset:30 km south of Tessalit, with estimated reserve of 4 t of gold, this deposit is under investigations by Taghlit SA.
  • Tessalit:Lead-zinc mineralisation has been identified 10 km north, with estimated reserves of 1.7 Mt at 5-10% Zn, 2% Pb and 1 g/t Au
  • Timetrine:Rare earth minerals can be found 80 km west of Tessalit.
• Tilemsi
  • Samit:Uranium mineralisation is 120 km northeast of Gao in the administrative subdivision of Djébock. This deposit has estimated reserves of 200 t of ore grading 0.09% U3O8
  • Tamaguilelt:A phosphate deposit is located 80 km northeast of Bourem, which has been exploited by Sept SA (which is in the process of being privatised), with a production of 18,000 t. The reserves are estimated at 11.8 Mt.

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