Gold potential in SW England

The potential for an economic gold discovery may exist in southwestern England, says R. Rumbold et Associes.

The Devon-based geological consulting firm says work undertaken by the British Geological Survey and private companies since 1980, including geochemical and geophysical surveys and limited core drilling, has significantly contributed to the identification of areas of possible gold potential in the region, which is better known for its tin and copper mineralization.

A number of Crown licences for gold exploration have been granted, covering prospects in an area extending eastward from Camelford near the North Cornwall coast to Dartmoor, together with prospects in the South Hams to the east of Plymouth extending eastward toward the small town of Modbury. The areas considered to have gold potential are underlain mainly by Lower Devonian-to-Permian-age sediments, principally mudrocks with cherts, sandstones and limestones together with a range of volcanic rock types, intrusive dykes and granites, Rumbold says.