A Barrick employee in Mali confirmed the authenticity of the letter seen by Reuters. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the employee said it was sent to staff on Sunday.

"A provisional order to seize our existing gold stock was issued last week and the Malian government began its enforcement on January 11," Barrick said in the staff memo.

The world's second-biggest gold miner by volume said on January 6 that authorities had issued such an order and warned that it would have to suspend operations temporarily if restrictions on its gold shipments were not lifted within the week.

--Reuters--