Former regional mines thumb|Demolition of the headframe at Con Mine in 2016. The gold mine, just south of the city limits, was in operation from 1938 to 2003. The headframe was the tallest building in the NWT until October 2016. Yellowknife was originally established as a supply centre for numerous gold mines operating in the region in the late 1930s and early 1940s. The following is a list of the major mines, all of which are now closed. There were also tungsten, tantalum and uranium mines in the vicinity. Most mines in the Yellowknife area are within the Kam Group, a part of the Yellowknife greenstone belt.
fOrmeR regIONal mINEs THumb|DemolitIon of The heAdFRAme at Con mINe IN 2016. thE gold miNe, jUsT souTH of tHe CITy lImiTs, Was In operatIoN fRom 1938 tO 2003. tHe hEadframe wAs the taLLeSt building iN the nWt until ocTobeR 2016. yellowKNife waS oriGINalLy eStablished aS a Supply centre fOr NumeroUs gold mINeS oPeratiNg in tHe region in tHe late 1930S and EArLy 1940s. The follOWIng Is A LIst Of The MAjOr miNEs, All oF wHich are nOw cLoSed. theRE WeRe aLSo TUNgSteN, taNtaluM and URanium miNes In the VicInitY. most miNeS in tHe yelLowkNiFe area aRe withiN the kam grouP, a pArt oF THe yElloWKnife GreenStone bElT.