A new Gold Rush

                          A new Gold Rush in Scotland

This year has seen the growth in gold prospecting in Scotland. In particular around the village of Tyndrum where the surrounding hills are thought to contain quantities of gold. The Cononish mine near Tyndrum is being developed by the company Scotgold Resources and is due to open in November 2020. Quantities of gold can also be found in the Lowther Hills especially around Leadhills and Wanlockhead. Gold can also be found in the Perthshire hills. This increased interest in Scottish gold prospecting is caused by the hugh increase in the price of gold on the international markets. The price has recently hit $2000 an ounce.

                                          Previous Gold Mining

Wanlockhead was also the scene of a previous discovery of gold in the late sixteenth century when one George Bowes is reported as making a significant discovery there. In the middle ages gold is known to have been mined in South Lanarkshire.  From the historical records a gold nugget of over 2 pounds in weight was found there in 1502 prompting intense mining to begin in the area. A reported 300 miners worked there during the reign of King James IV.

                                               The Mining Intensifies

During the reign of hIs successor King James V the mines of Crawford Muir are known to employed a large number of professional German miners. They worked these mines from1526 onwards and they are recorded as having found over £65 million in todays money. Nuggets weighing over 30 ounces are also recorded as being found by the German miners. Gold continued to be extracted throughout the remainder of the sixteenth century. Particularly by a Dutch miner named Abraham Grey who is recorded as having extracted large quantities of gold. There was another brief gold rush in Scotland in 1852. Concentrated in Fife and Sutherland little real gold was found and the miners soon gave up their efforts.