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 South Wales, gold is found in a small area in the valley of the River Cothi at Dolaucothi where it is known to have been mined by the Romans.

Celtic jewellery such as torcs were 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,^{[citation needed]} 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.

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]