Gwynfynydd Gold Mine

1kg of gold from Gwynfynydd Gold Mine that was presented to Queen Elizabeth II in 1986

Gwynfynydd Gold Mine near Ganllwyd, Dolgellau, Gwynedd, Wales, was discovered in 1860. It was active until 1998 and has produced 45,000+ troy ounces of Welsh gold since 1884. The Queen was presented with a kilogram of Welsh gold on her 60th birthday (April 1986) from this mine.[1]

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.[2] By this time the mine had been acquired by William Pritchard Morgan, who was to become known as the "Welsh gold king", and who paid for two police constables to protect the mine.[3]

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 prestigious 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]

Gwynfynydd now

The mine closed because of Health and Safety issues, which would have almost doubled the cost of sinking mine shafts and galleries, 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.[5]

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. The aim is to develop the mine to be the first rurally sensitive hydro scheme, generating electricity for the local area. Then in the long term Clogau will look at the feasibility of mining the mine for another source of Welsh gold.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Prior, Neil (27 April 2011). "Welsh gold wedding ring continues royal tradition". BBC News. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "Gwynfynydd Gold Mine". History of Gwynfynydd. Clogau. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  3. ↑ "Gold Mining in Wales". PapersPast. 1888. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  4. ↑ "Welsh Gold". Kelvin Jenkins. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  5. ↑ 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.

Coordinates: 52°50′14″N 3°52′42″W / 52.8371°N 3.8784°W / 52.8371; -3.8784

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