TAKE a look inside Britain’s only gold mine which has five tonnes of the precious metal waiting to be recovered.
Silver is also said to lie close to the mouth of the 1km long mine beneath Tyndrum’s hills in Scotland.
Only motorists can visit the mine which has been zoned off with a gate marked, “No Unauthorised Visitors” since it is located at the end of a bumpy dirt track, 20 minutes away from the A82.
A geologist for Scottish mining company Scotgold Resources once said the “tantalising glittering of the rocks” illuminates the mouth of the tunnel, where the precious metals are said to be found, inews reported.
Miners first discovered the gold deposits at Cononish in the 1980s, but after several years of planning permission disputes the mine was closed.
Scotgold Resources believe they are at the brink of receiving backing to extract the metals, which could lure tourists and lovebirds hoping to secure authentic Scottish gold wedding and engagement rings to the area – boosting the local economy.
Richard Gray, Scotgold Resources managing director told the Oban Times: “If we get permission, and we have every reason to expect that we will get it because we came back with a better scheme, it would create 63 direct jobs and we would be buying materials we need from local suppliers, boosting the local economy.”
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority’s planning committee will visit the site next week, and then it is believed, they will give Scotgold Resources the go-ahead.
Scotgold Resources have been producing metals above ground for 18 months, and have managed to process 2,4000 tonnes of ore outside the mine’s entrance.
The company has received £3million from shareholders towards the scheme so far, but will need a further £7million from investors to get the extracts off the ground.
New revised plans for the Cononish Mine are said to be “much more environmentally friendly”, which is through to have won officials over.
As part of adjustments, the mining company plans to phase in mining operations over 17 years instead of ten.
A spokesman for the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority said: “A planning application was received from Scotgold on the August 10, 2017 for its revised mine proposal at Cononish gold mine at Tyndrum.
“This is being considered according to the National Park Authority’s standard planning procedures.”
