Gwynfynydd Gold Mine
Gwynfynydd Gold Mine is near Ganllwyd,
History
Gold was found in the Dolgellau area in the 1850s and a mining rush developed. The first gold was discovered at Gwynfynydd in 1863, but it was not until 1887 that the mine was developed commercially.
By 1888, two hundred people were employed at the site, the gold being extracted by driving horizontal tunnels (adits) into the mountainside, with the miners working deep underground by candlelight. The machinery was powered by water wheels and water turbines. In contrast to other mines in the area where the gold was found in shallow deposits, the Gwynfynydd gold is extracted from large quartz veins deep underground.[2]
Uses
Gold from the Gwynfynydd Mine has been used in many modern awards. Notably, Gwynfynydd gold has been incorporated in the Glyndŵr Award. This medal has been awarded annually since 1995 by the Machynlleth Tabernacl Trust, for excellence in the arts in Wales. Recipients have included many outstanding Welsh artists, beginning with painter Sir Kyffin Williams in 1995.[4]
In April 1986, Queen Elizabeth II was presented with a kilogram of Welsh gold from the mine to celebrate her 60th birthday.[5]
Gwynfynydd now
The mine closed because of Health and Safety law, which would have almost doubled the cost of sinking mine shafts and galleries, and because of changing
The land surrounding Gwynfynydd Gold Mine was previously owned by Welsh Gold Plc, but has recently been acquired by Clogau Gold of Wales Ltd. Clogau purchased circa 80 acres of land surrounding the mine in mid-2013, giving them more control of Welsh gold production.
See also
- Clogau
- Dolaucothi
References
- ^ "Welsh gold wedding ring continues royal tradition". BBC News. 27 April 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
- ^ a b "Gwynfynydd Gold Mine". History of Gwynfynydd. Clogau. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
- ^ "Gold Mining in Wales". PapersPast. 1888. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
- ^ "Welsh Gold". Kelvin Jenkins. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
- ^ "Welsh gold wedding ring continues royal tradition". BBC News. 27 April 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
- ^ Perring, Rebecca (29 September 2014). "It's a gold rush in SNOWDONIA: Panic as thousands flock to Welsh mountain for nuggets". The Express. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
