Gold is being extracted in Wales not only from historic mines but also through innovative urban mining techniques. In 2022, the Royal Mint in Llantrisant launched a new facility designed to process 4,000 tons of electronic waste annually. This “urban mining” operation focuses on reclaiming gold from discarded circuit boards of old phones, laptops, and televisions.
Inga Doak, the Royal Mint’s Sustainability Chief, explains that gold is used in circuit boards due to its excellent conductivity and resistance to corrosion, which makes it more valuable than silver or copper. Each smartphone contains approximately 0.034 grams of gold. The extraction process involves two main phases: initially, the circuit boards are treated to separate their components and metals, with gold-bearing materials sent to the Llantrisant plant.
At the new facility, the gold is recovered using a patented method developed by the Canadian clean technology firm Excir. This method is less energy-intensive compared to traditional processes, which often require extremely high temperatures.
The initiative aims to produce hundreds of kilograms of gold annually, which will be used to create jewelry for the Royal Mint’s 866 range. Named after the year the Royal Mint was established, this collection was launched in 2022 and includes pieces available for purchase online and at the Royal Mint’s boutique in Burlington Arcade, London.
