Exhibit (b)



                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 01/31/06 (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:  March 22, 2006

                                    /S/JIMMY D. GAMBILL

                                    Jimmy D. Gambill
                                    Chief Executive Officer - Finance and
                                    Administration







 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 01/31/06 (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:  March 22, 2006

                                    /S/GALEN G. VETTER

                                    Galen G. Vetter
                                    Chief Financial Officer