Exhibit (b)
                                CERTIFICATIONS


                CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
                       AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
                        OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Jimmy D. Gambill, Chief Executive Officer of the FRANKLIN GOLD AND PRECIOUS
METALS FUND (the "Registrant"), certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as
adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my
knowledge:

   1.         The periodic report on Form N-CSR of the Registrant for the period
              ended 7/31/05 (the "Form N-CSR") fully complies with the
              requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
              Act of 1934; and

   2.         The information contained in the Form N-CSR fairly presents, in
              all material respects, the financial condition and results of
              operations of the Registrant.

Dated: September 26, 2005

                            /s/JIMMY D. GAMBILL
                            Jimmy D. Gambill
                            Chief Executive Officer - Finance and Administration


A SIGNED ORIGINAL OF THIS WRITTEN STATEMENT REQUIRED BY SECTION 906 OR OTHER
DOCUMENT AUTHENTICATING, ACKNOWLEDGING, OR OTHERWISE ADOPTING THE SIGNATURE THAT
APPEARS IN TYPED FORM WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THIS WRITTEN STATEMENT
REQUIRED BY SECTION 906, HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO REGISTRANT AND WILL BE RETAINED BY
REGISTRANT AND FURNISHED TO THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ITS STAFF
UPON REQUEST.





                CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
                       AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
                        OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Galen G. Vetter, Chief Financial Officer of the FRANKLIN GOLD AND PRECIOUS
METALS FUND (the "Registrant"), certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as
adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my
knowledge:

   1.         The periodic report on Form N-CSR of the Registrant for the period
              ended 7/31/05 (the "Form N-CSR") fully complies with the
              requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
              Act of 1934; and

   2.         The information contained in the Form N-CSR fairly presents, in
              all material respects, the financial condition and results of
              operations of the Registrant.

Dated:  September 26, 2005

                                    /s/GALEN G. VETTER
                                    Galen G. Vetter
                                    Chief Financial Officer



A SIGNED ORIGINAL OF THIS WRITTEN STATEMENT REQUIRED BY SECTION 906, OR OTHER
DOCUMENT AUTHENTICATING, ACKNOWLEDGING, OR OTHERWISE ADOPTING THE SIGNATURE THAT
APPEARS IN TYPED FORM WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THIS WRITTEN STATEMENT
REQUIRED BY SECTION 906, HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO REGISTRANT AND WILL BE RETAINED BY
REGISTRANT AND FURNISHED TO THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ITS STAFF
UPON REQUEST.