Is there any gold worth looking for in the U.K?

Hello Paul A

I have often asked myself that.

 I cannot comment about the gold fields in Scotland but have panned some of streams in mid Wales many years ago. Don't expect to get rich from it! You have better chance winning the lottery.

 But you can sometimes find a little colour. The most active Goldpanning areas in Wales, is in North Wales around the Dolgellau area. Most rivers and streams around there will carry gold to a greater or lesser extent.

If you like the outdoors and thrill of just being out there having a go? Then perhaps a little camping trip or holiday around there would be fun. You are supposed to have a permit but the local authorities turn a blind eye if your not bothering anyone.

Like always, permission should be asked from the Landowner before you decide to go wandering across his fields/land. Whilst many stream and rivers around Snowdonia and Dolaucothi will carry gold to a greater or lesser extent, The Mawddach and the Wen are probably the best known.

 Most of the mining there was hard rock mining. The gold was very sporadic.Uneconomical for large mining companies as most of land around is near national park which would not be suitable for large scale modern mining methods. Gold mining for them is more attractive overseas such as Australia. South Africa etc..

However for a small scale weekend prospector it might be fun to work the streams around the old mining sites for pockets of alluvial gold was into small potholes in the stream beds on the bends of streams where over time small fragments of gold can collect. In researching the history of gold mining in Wales most mines were quartz reef mine or gold trapped in or with copper and other metals. It was a very hit or miss industry that was very frustrating for miners.

I had once entertained the idea of pumping out alluvial deposits from potholes along the riverbeds and use a sluice or a mini gold concentrator. I have no seen much historical evidence that large scale alluvial mining via dredging on those rivers.

But Icy water to work in of course.

Hardluck 

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Hi Hardluck,
Kind of what I was planning really...... a week or so camping and spend the day panning.
There's a guy in Scotland who runs weekend courses in how to pan.
Is it worth spending the money to learn "How to", or something that's pretty easy to pick up?


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		Quote:			Posted by Paul A
	Just wondered if there is any gold here in the U.K. worth looking for? I Know there is welsh and scottish gold and I believe some has been found in cornwall. Is it worthwhile looking for though? Or is it in such tiny quantities that it's a non - starter?

Wherever gold has been found in the past, gold will be found in the future. The same long occupation by organized governments that gives you such wonderful finds in the UK works against you though. The mines have been worked to absolute death. With new and modern equipment though, you should stand a good chance of retracing the paths of your ancestors and picking up what they never would have found by sheer brawn alone.

I say go for it. Have a nice day out or a week out and learn from it. Remember that in addition to finding gold, you will be standing in the same spot that people have used for millennia. That's a whole heap of time to drop things that a metal detector might find.

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A recent discovery In Ireland of a modern gold mine was reported in our new, One local prospector was onto colour and worked his was upstream until he found the mother load

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LOL! You Call That Gold?


I call that GOLD!!


This is a day in a not so good spot in New Mexico.



This is a better day!  LOL!




I'm not going to show you the Real Good days.  LOL!


Man, is the Gold Wars on who own what over there getting cleaned up.

Who owns what?  Queen, Land owner, People?

Sure looks good to me.

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