Gold occurs in the river gravels around Wanlockhead and Leadhills. The main period of working was during the sixteenth century when the Scottish crown invited a number of foreign miners to search for gold in the Lowther Hills. James V (1512-42) is said to have added local gold to the Honours of Scotland, using 1.2 kg (41 ounces) in his own crown and 1.0 kg (35 ounces) in the Queen's crown.