The case for gold panning in Scotland

Clark, N. (2014) The case for gold panning in Scotland. Earth Heritage, 41, pp. 26-27.

Abstract

In March 2014, the Hunterian at the University of Glasgow will hold an exhibition of gold in Scotland. Amongst the treasures on display will be the King's Gold Cup from the Leith races of 1751, Queen Victoria's gold collar of the Order of the Thistle, 'cloth of gold' from the tomb of Robert the Bruce, Bronze and Iron Age gold torcs (especially the hoard from Law Farm, Morayshire), a multitude of Scottish gold coins, modern creations by Scottish goldsmith Graham Stewart, and 10 large nuggets found in Scottish rivers. Gold has been an important part of Scottish heritage for millennia and makes a significant contribution today with the Tyndrum mine and the more leisurely pursuits of panners at Wanlockhead and Kildonan. Tyndrum is not the first gold mine in Scotland. Extensive mining took place during the reigns of James the IV and V in parts of the Leadhills, mostly between Crawford and Wanlockhead. Nuggets weighing close to 1kg were said to have been found and converted into coinage or used in repairs to royal regalia. Gold mining in the Leadhills ceased in the reign of James VI in the 1620s; only small‐scale extraction has taken place since. In recent times, prospectors for gold in Scotland have been rewarded at some localities previously thought unlikely. Eminent geologists of the 19 th Century proclaimed that Scotland had no economical gold deposits as it did not have the right geology. This is clearly wrong as the ore body at Tyndrum proves.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: No
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Clark, Dr Neil
• Authors: Clark, N.
• Subjects: D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain; H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions; H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor; K Law > K Law (General); Q Science > QE Geology
• College/School: University Services > Library and Collection Services > Museum and Art Gallery
• Journal Name: Earth Heritage
• Publisher: Natural England
• ISSN: 1350-6331
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2014 Natural England
• First Published: First published in Earth Heritage 41:26-27
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced with the permission of the publisher