The regimes of Moussa Traoré and Modibo Këita, the first two presidents for Mali, were both allies with the Soviet Union, so the first industrial gold mining in the country was primarily a pursuit of the Soviet Union.
How is mineral extraction done in Mali?
Mineral extraction in the country is done both via industrial mining and artisanal mining, and both methods of production have had profound impacts on the economy, sociocultural landscape, and environment. Gold extraction has occurred in Mali from ancient times using simple implements before the modern mechanized system came into practice.
What is industrial gold mining in Mali?
Industrial gold mining in Mali is primarily done by foreign investors and companies. Aglogold Ashanti, Rangold, and IAMGold are the three primary mining companies extracting gold. There are other much smaller companies that are involved as well, many of these are Canadian and Australian organizations.
What stones are extracted in Mali?
Semiprecious stones extracted are amethyst, epidote, garnet, prehnite, and quartz. Some amount of diamond is also extracted as a byproduct during gold extraction. Gold mining is carried out by 13 international mining companies. The United States Geological Survey estimates that Mali has 700,000 tons of lithium resources.