Welsh gold

Welsh gold is gold found in natural geological deposits in two distinct areas of Wales in the United Kingdom. It has been prized for its origin and scarcity, particularly by members of the British royal family. It is not a unique material substance; it is chemically identical to gold mined elsewhere.

In North Wales gold is often found in a band stretching from Barmouth, past Dolgellau and north towards Snowdonia. The largest of the mines in North Wales were the Gwynfynydd Gold Mine, near Ganllwyd, and the Clogau Gold Mine near Bontddu. In South Wales gold is found in a small area in the valley of the river Afon Cothi at Dolaucothi, where it is known to have been mined by the Ancient Romans.

Celtic jewellery, such as torcs, was worn by early Welsh princes, and ancient gold artefacts found in Wales include the Mold Cape and the Banc Ty'nddôl sun-disc, found at the Cwmystwyth Mines in 2002. It is not possible to confirm that these use Welsh gold since there were strong trade links between Wales and Ireland at the time and Ireland was the major area of gold working in the Bronze Age British Isles. Gold from Ireland is especially well known from the Irish Bronze Age as being used for jewellery, in the form of gold lunulae, torcs, gorgets, rings and bracelets. It was presumably collected by panning from alluvial placers in river beds or near old rivers.

The Jersey-registered company Gold Mines of Wales Limited has, by permission of the Crown, an exploration licence for Wales. Gold Mines of Wales Limited is a subsidiary of Alba Mineral Resources, a publicly listed company headquartered in London.