South Africa: Estimated 5 000 Mt in unmined reserves
South Africa’s unmined gold reserves are contained primarily within the well-known Witwatersrand Basin, a historically rich gold-producing area.
While the country boasts large reserves, its gold production has significantly decreased from its peak in the 1970s, with modern production levels much lower.
The Witwatersrand Basin is a vast underground geological formation stretching approximately 400 km across the Gauteng, Free State, and North West provinces. While some smaller deposits exist elsewhere, a vast majority are concentrated in this area.
Carletonville Goldfield: Located in Gauteng/North West. It includes some of the deepest mines in the world, such as Mponeng.
West Wits Line: Contains significant reserves and mines, including South Deep and Kusasalethu.
Free State Goldfield: A major, mature mining area, specifically around the Welkom region.
Evander Goldfield: Located to the east of the main basin.
Barberton Greenstone Belt: Located in Mpumalanga, north of Eswatini. Contains smaller but significant deposits.
These reserves are exceptionally deep, with many operations extending 2.4 km to over 4 km below the surface. Much of the gold is currently inaccessible or uneconomical to mine.
Ghana: Estimated 1 000 Mt in unmined reserves
These unmined gold reserves are primarily situated in the southwestern part of the country, concentrated within the Ashanti Gold Belt and the Western Region Goldfields.
They are embedded in geological formations known as the Birimian and Tarkwaian rocks, which cover roughly 23.34% of Ghana’s landmass.
Western and Western North Regions: Contain the highest concentrations, particularly around Tarkwa, Damang, and Bibiani. The Tarkwaian conglomerates are a major source of paleoplacer gold in this area.
Ashanti Region: Home to the historically rich Obuasi area, known for its deep underground mining, and the surrounding Ashanti Gold Belt.
Eastern Region: The Akyem area is a major, yet partially untapped, location for gold deposits.
Bono Region: The Bono region has the largest surface area of gold-bearing rocks, roughly 18.74% of the total, covering 10,410 km^2, which presents significant potential for future exploration.
Birimian Sediments and Volcanics: These formations contain the vast majority of the deposits, with 65.99% of gold-bearing rocks being Birimian Sediments.
Tarkwaian System: Contain significant paleoplacer gold, particularly in the Banket series conglomerates.
Mali: Estimated 800 metric tons in unmined reserves
Mali’s estimated 800+ Mt of unmined gold reserves are primarily situated in the southern and western regions of the country, specifically within the Kayes, Sikasso, and Koulikoro regions.
These deposits are located in the heart of the Sahel and are largely found within the Proterozoic Birrimian formations known for their high concentration of gold.
Kayes Region (Western Mali): Holds major deposits associated with the Loulo-Gounkoto complex operated by Barrick Gold, the Sadiola mine operated by Allied Gold, and the Fekola mine operated by B2Gold. The Fekola mine, in particular, has been a major source of new reserve discoveries.
Sikasso Region (Southern Mali): Hosts significant deposits, including the Syama mine operated Resolute Mining and the Morila mine.
Koulikoro Region: Contains various gold-bearing areas.
Yanfolila Project: Another key area with significant deposits, located in southern Mali.
The reserves are mostly surface-level or accessible through open-pit mining. A significant portion of undiscovered or informal gold deposits is located in artisanal mining zones throughout the southern regions.
Tanzania: Estimated 400 Mt in unmined reserves
Tanzania’s significant unmined gold reserves are primarily located within the Archean greenstone belts around the Lake Victoria Goldfields in the northwestern region of the country. Overall, they are concentrated in the following areas:
Lake Victoria Goldfields (Northwestern Tanzania): This region hosts the majority of the country’s known reserves. Key areas include the Geita Region, Shinyanga Region and Mara Region.
Geita Greenstone Belt: Known for hosting numerous deposits, including the Buckreef gold project.
Sukumaland Greenstone Belt: Contains significant deposits like the Nyanzaga gold project.
Lupa Gold Field: Located in southwestern Tanzania, Songwe District. Hosts the Luika gold mine.
Mpanda Mineral Field: Located in western Tanzania.
The reserves are characterised by their location within Archean Greenstone belts, particularly in banded iron formations and shear-zone-controlled quartz reefs.
Zimbabwe: 13 Mt of unmined gold in situ
Zimbabwe features a highly diversified mining sector with gold as a predominant mineral found in areas like Manicaland. Its untapped gold reserves are largely located within its extensive, but underexplored, greenstone belts, particularly in areas like the Maitengwe belt, near Tsholotsho and within the Bulawayo Greenstone Belt.
Potential is also identified in the Midlands Kwekwe area and the Limpopo Mobile Belt, often beneath younger cover rocks requiring advanced exploration to unlock.
Greenstone Belts: Over 90% of Zimbabwe’s gold is in these ancient rock formations, with untapped potential in smaller belts not yet thoroughly explored.
Dokwe project (Tsholotsho): The largest undeveloped gold project, located in a greenstone belt covered by younger sediments, indicating significant hidden deposits.
Bulawayo Greenstone Belt: Hosts projects like the Golden Valley Project, situated in the same geological setting as known mines.
Midlands Province (Kwekwe): Known for gold, with areas like the Shurugwi Valley showing potential for cost-effective extraction.
Limpopo Mobile Belt (South): Contains gold deposits in older basement rocks.
Northwestern Zimbabwe: Gold found in Proterozoic Piriwiri rocks.
Many deposits are buried under thick layers, up to 25 m – 40 m, of Karoo and Kalahari sediments, making them hard to detect with traditional methods. Smaller greenstone belts and covered areas haven’t received detailed investigation, despite hosting known gold occurrences.
DRC: Vast untapped mineral wealth
Precise unmined gold tonnage is under-reported due to security and infrastructure challenges. There is significant gold presence, with artisanal miners focusing heavily on it.
However precise quantification remains challenging due to underdeveloped exploration and complex mining landscapes. Untapped gold reserves are predominantly situated in the eastern and northeastern regions.
Ituri Province: Significant gold deposits and artisanal mining.
Haut-Uele Province: Contains large, high-potential goldfields, including the Kilo-Moto belt which hosts the major Kibali gold mine, with further undeveloped, high-grade deposits in the region.
South Kivu Province: Houses substantial, yet often untapped or informally mined, deposits, particularly in areas like Kamituga, which is noted for having large untapped resources.
North Kivu and Maniema Provinces: Known to contain significant gold, tin, and tantalum deposits.
Around 90% of the DRC’s mineral resources, including significant untapped gold, are not yet fully exploited. In many of these areas, gold is mined by artisanal and small-scale miners, leaving immense reserves still to be developed. The West Congo Belt is also cited as an overlooked area for potential mineral exploration.
Burkina Faso: More than 440 gold mining sites with significant ongoing exploration
Burkina Faso’s untapped and underdeveloped gold reserves are primarily located within the Birimian greenstone belts, which cover roughly 22% of the country’s landmass, particularly in the northern, western and southwestern regions.
The country holds significant potential for further exploitation, with major undeveloped or exploration-stage prospects located near existing mines.
Gaoua District (Southwest): Known for the Nassara-Au prospect and the Gaoua Cu–Au deposit. This area features orogenic gold mineralisation associated with pyrite within the West Batié Shear Zone in the Boromo Greenstone Belt.
Houndé Belt (West): One of the most prolific gold belts in West Africa, hosting advanced projects like the Sanutura project which is 1 500 km² and considered to have high development potential.
Northern Region (Aribinda-Essakane Belt): While the Essakane mine is already operational, surrounding exploration permits covering over 1 000 km² contain untapped resources.
Plateau-Central Region (Niou Project): Located in Kourweogo province, this area has been recently targeted for development, with a 52.8 km² concession that is expected to yield substantial gold.
Fada-N’gourma Belt (East): The Diabatou area is noted for potential unexploited deposits.
Sudan: Among the top producers with substantial remaining deposits
Sudan’s largely untapped and underdeveloped gold reserves are primarily located in the northern and northeastern regions, stretching from the Red Sea Hills to the Nubian Desert.
River Nile State: A major hub, particularly around the Abu Hamad area, where the Meyas Sand gold project containing the Galat Sufar South and Wadi Doum deposits is located.
Red Sea State: Contains extensive, largely unexplored deposits.
Northern State: Contains significant quartz-vein formations.
North Darfur: The Jebel ‘Amer district is known for its high-grade artisanal mining.
North and South Kordofan: Areas with significant quartz-vein formations.
Blue Nile Region: Contains notable alluvial gold deposits.
While Sudan is one of Africa’s top producers, most of its industry is driven by unregulated, artisanal mining, leaving vast areas underexplored through modern techniques.
Guinea: Holds significant gold deposits currently under exploration
Guinea’s untapped and underdeveloped gold reserves are primarily located in the northeastern part, particularly within the Siguiri Basin. This region is part of the rich West African Birimian gold belt, which remains significantly underexplored.
Siguiri Basin (Northeast): This region is the hub of Guinea’s gold mining. While the Siguiri mine is active, substantial potential exists for further exploration in this area.
Bankan gold project (NE Bankan / Bankan Creek): Located in the southwest part of the Siguiri Basin, this project is considered a major untapped Tier 1 asset, with significant discoveries announced in 2020 and 2021.
Argo Area: Adjacent to the Bankan project, with multiple targets identified.
Gold in Guinea is largely associated with the Proterozoic Birimian rocks and laterite/quartz vein-related mineralisation. Much of the country is still in the early stages of exploration, with significant potential for new discoveries. A significant amount of gold is extracted by artisanal miners in the Upper Guinea region containing the Siguiri Basin.
Egypt: Home to substantial mineral resources including gold, notably in the Arabian-Nubian Shield
Egypt’s untapped gold reserves are primarily located in the Eastern Desert, a region spanning from the Nile River to the Red Sea, and in South Sinai.
This area is part of the Arabian-Nubian Shield, a geological formation known for being one of the most mineral-rich areas in the world.
Eastern Desert Regions: More than 200 ancient mines exist in the Eastern Desert, with significant gold prospects located in areas such as:
Wadi Allaqi: Located in the South Eastern Desert. Has over 20 gold occurrences and is a major focus for future exploration.
Hamash and Wadi Allaqi: Identified as having substantial gold potential, with the Hamash old gold mine located in the South Eastern Desert.
Barramiya/Atud: Located in the Central Eastern Desert, with Barramiya recognised as one of the richest, yet still largely undeveloped, gold mines.
Anbat-Shakoosh District: Part of the Hodine concession in the Central Eastern Desert, which has identified non-compliant resources.
Abu Marawat: Located in the North Eastern Desert. Considered highly promising for new discoveries.
South Sinai: Recognised as a potential area for gold exploration due to its geological, Precambrian basement structure.
Modern prospectors are using ancient Roman and Pharaonic mining sites as clues, as ancient miners rarely dug deeper than 20 m to 30 m.
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