SCOTTISH gold has been produced for the first time from a mine in the Highlands.
Mining firm Scotgold said that around 10 ounces of the precious metal has been produced at its ore processing trial at Cononish, near Tyndrum.
The company have launched a trial crushing 2,400 tonnes of ore which was stockpiled by the mine's previous owners.
They hope to prove the financial viability of producing Scottish gold in a bid to attract investors to back larger-scale production at Cononish.
The small-scale pilot plant was given the go-ahead after permission was granted by the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority earlier this year.
Scotgold chief executive Richard Gray said that it will run for six months, and aims to send 400 and 600 ounces of gold to the Jewellery market.
He said: "It is extremely satisfying to be able to celebrate this significant milestone with some of our longstanding stakeholders.
"The achievement of gold production provides tangible evidence of our progress and we appreciate the support of all our stakeholders in getting to this point.
"We have the trial for six months, but there is enough ore in the stockpile for 18 months of operations so if it is viable we will seek to go on."
He added: "The overall lifespan of the mine is eight years, and we believe there a lot more to find in the hills and a lot more left to drill."
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