Plizio Visual Lab

Yaou Gold Mine

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

Industrial site

Weather…

The Yaou gold mine is located in southwestern French Guiana, near the commune of Maripasoula along the border with Suriname. The deposit is part of the Maroni-Itany greenstone belt, a geological zone with high mineralization potential. The mine has been extensively explored through drilling programs that confirmed significant gold reserves within the bedrock. Development of this site is led by the company Auplata, which aims for a combination of industrial mining and sustainable resource management. Due to the area's isolation, the mine is heavily dependent on fluvial logistics via the Maroni River. The geological structure of Yaou includes shear zones where gold is finely distributed within quartz and sulfides. The project holds great significance for the economic development of the border region and provides employment in an otherwise structurally weak area. It is subject to strict monitoring to curb illegal gold mining activities in the vicinity.

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Aug–Oct.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg °C	25	25	25	25	25	25	25	25	27	28	28	26
Rain mm	205	223	243	302	334	256	186	110	47	63	87	202

📋 Practical info

🏭

What is this place?

The Yaou Gold Mine in southwestern French Guiana near Maripasoula is a significant gold deposit and a major economic driver in the remote region. It is considered a mining stronghold and employs many local workers.

🚪

Visiting

Like most active mines, Yaou is usually not open for tours. The surrounding trails and the nearby river sometimes provide distant views of the facilities.

👀

Where to view it

A high point along the road to Maripasoula provides some view of the mine site. For a better perspective, one would need to look from the air, for example from charter flights to Maripasoula.

🧺

Local products

In Maripasoula, one can sometimes buy gold jewelry and local crafts made by indigenous communities. Agricultural products such as cassava and fruits are also available at the market.

📆

Active season

The mine operates year-round with seasonal fluctuations: production peaks during the dry season, while work is hampered by flooding in the rainy season. Navigation on the Lawa River is often restricted then.

➕

Nearby

A visit can be combined with a boat trip on the Lawa River to the indigenous Wayana and Apalai villages. The nearby Tumuc-Humac mountain range also features hikes in the Amazon rainforest.