The Prince of Wales Goldmine Cache Traditional Cache
Professor Xavier: As the owner has not responded to my previous log requesting that they check this cache I am archiving it. Please note that as this cache has now been archived by a reviewer or HQ staff it will NOT be unarchived.
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Regards
Ed
Professor Xavier - Volunteer UK Reviewer
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The Prince of Wales Goldmine Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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The cache which is a 450ml clip top box in a cammo bag contains the log and a pencil and there is room for a few small swaps or TBs. It is located a short distance away from the entrance of the mine adit and is quite safely accessible.
The Prince of Wales is one of the many small gold mines in this part of North Wales and the mine workings lie beside the Dolgellau - Barmouth road. A specimen from the mine is exhibited in the Institute of Geological Sciences in London.The history of the mine is believed to have begun in 1836 when silver and lead were found. Gold was reported in the mine in 1846 but it never yielded as much as the Clogau mines a few miles way. By January 1865 about 300 tons of poor quality ore had yielded 18oz of gold and in 1868 the Prince of Wales Gold and Silver Mining Company Ltd went in to liqudation. Between 1889 and 1892 the mine was reopened but was never a success and was finally abandoned in 1903.
The ore dressing plant was located on the other side of the main road some 250 yards east of the main shaft. The site is now occupied by a private house, Glan-y-Morfa, but the stamp mill tower is a distinctive part of the buildings.
The mine itself consisted of a few tunnels in the hill-side accessed by a main shaft and also by two adits (levels), the entrance to one being the location of the cache. Although this mine entrance is near the road, it is not fenced off but no attempt should be made to enter the tunnel as it could be very dangerous.
Many thanks to Jon Levell of the Forestry Commision for giving consent to placing this cache.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Qba'g or fghzcrq ol guvf bar.