Welsh gold
Welsh gold is gold found in natural geological deposits in two distinct areas of Wales and highly prized [by whom?] because of its origin and scarcity[citation needed].
Welsh gold is not a unique material substance. It is chemically identical to gold mined anywhere else.[1][2] Its name is purely derived from the place it was mined, not the place it was created, or for any scientific reason.[3]
In North Wales gold is often found in a band stretching from Barmouth, past Dolgellau and up towards Snowdonia. This was mined at several mines, the largest of which were the Gwynfynydd Gold Mine, near Ganllwyd, and the Clogau Gold Mine near Bontddu. In
Jersey registered company 'Gold Mines of Wales Limited' [4] has, by permission of the Crown, an exploration licence for Wales. Gold Mines of Wales Limited is a subsidiary of Publicly listed company, headquartered in London 'Alba Mineral Resources'.[5]
Dolaucothi
The earliest known Welsh
However, Dolaucothi is best known for its exploitation on a
The Dolaucothi mine is open to the public under the aegis of the
North Wales
Gwynfynydd
The Gwynfynydd Gold Mine in Dolgellau closed in January 1999.[7] In January 2007, the BBC[citation needed] and other news organisations[8] reported that the final traces of "economically extractable" gold had been removed from the mines and surrounding soil. Even the local road surface had been filtered for traces, marking the end of the current mining operation. Gwynfynydd was discovered in 1860. It was active until 1998 and has produced 45,000+ troy ounces of gold since 1884. The Queen was presented with a kilogram ingot of gold from Wales on her 60th birthday (April 1986) from this mine.[9] In the 1990s the mine was open to the public and provided guided tours which included the opportunity to pan for gold. The mine closed because Health and Safety issues and because of changing pollution control legislation which would have made the owners liable for the quality of the mine discharge into the River Mawddach had the mine remained open.
In 2016, the Welsh gold jewellery firm Clogau, bought Gwynfynydd, seventeen years after ceasing production.[10]
Clogau
Another gold mine lies nearby, the
After producing copper and a little lead for quite a number of years, the mine developed into gold production in the 1862 'rush' and continued as a major operator until 1911, during which 165,031 tons of gold ore was mined resulting in 78,507 troy ounces (2,441.8 kg) of gold.
It worked the St David's lode of Clogau mountain alongside the co-owned Vigra Mine. Since 1911 the mine has been re-opened several times for smaller-scale operations. It last closed in 1998.
In 1989, William Roberts, founder of Welsh jewellery brand Clogau, acquired the rights to mine and conducted a few years of small scale mining at the Clogau St David's mine in Dolgellau before its eventual closure in 1998 – due to the high costs of extraction and the diminishing quantities of Welsh gold being found.
Occurrence
Welsh gold forms in veins or
Patronage
The link between Welsh gold and the
Welsh gold has been used to create wedding rings for some members of the royal family.
See also
References
- ^ Clarke, Anthony (2021-02-21). "Why it is time Wales protected its gold". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
- ^ "#79 - Gold - Au".
- ^ "#79 - Gold - Au".
- ^ "Entity".
- ^ Clarke, Anthony (2021-02-21). "Why it is time Wales protected its gold". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
- ^ National Trust: Dolaucothi Gold Mines
- ^ Wyre Davies (1999-01-26). "Welsh gold mine closes". BBC News. Retrieved 2011-04-25.
- ^ Swansong for Welsh bands of gold
- ^ Prior, Neil (27 April 2011). "Welsh gold wedding ring continues royal tradition". BBC News. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
- ^ Bourne, Nick (24 November 2018). "Are these north Wales hills sitting on a gold mine?". BBC News. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- ISBN 978-0-7083-2000-6.
- ISBN 978-1-3990-9061-2.
External links
- "Mineralogy of Wales". Mineral Database. National Museum of Wales. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
- Wales Underground: Gold
- Wales calling: Gold Mining in Wales
- The Geology of the Dolgellau Gold-Belt
- I. M. Platten and S. C. Dominy (2009) "Geological mapping in the evaluation of structurally controlled gold veins: A case study from the Dogellau gold belt, north Wales, United Kingdom", World Gold Conference 2009, South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, PDF file, accessed 14 November 2010.