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Label Element Value
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Document Type dei_DocumentType 485BPOS
Document Period End Date dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate Jul. 31, 2012
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName FRANKLIN GOLD & PRECIOUS METALS FUND
Central Index Key dei_EntityCentralIndexKey 0000083293
Amendment Flag dei_AmendmentFlag false
Document Creation Date dei_DocumentCreationDate Nov. 27, 2012
Document Effective Date dei_DocumentEffectiveDate Dec. 01, 2012
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Dec. 01, 2012
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading Fund Summary
Franklin Gold and Precious Metals Fund
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Goal
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock Capital appreciation. Its secondary goal is to provide shareholders with current income through dividends or interest received from its investments.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and Expenses of the Fund
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts in Class A if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Franklin Templeton funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and under “Your Account” on page 24 in the Fund's Prospectus and under “Buying and Selling Shares” on page 35 of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesCaption SHAREHOLDER FEES (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption

ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES

(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual Fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 8.34% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 8.34%
Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text] rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts You may qualify for sales charge discounts in Class A if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Franklin Templeton funds.
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount] rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount 50,000
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of the period. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text] rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption If you do not sell your shares:
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in securities of gold and precious metals operation companies. Gold and precious metals operation companies include companies that mine, process, or deal in gold or other precious metals, such as silver, platinum, and palladium, including mining finance and exploration companies as well as operating companies with long- or medium-life mines. The Fund is a "non-diversified" fund, which means it generally invests a greater portion of its assets in the securities of one or more issuers and invests overall in a smaller number of issuers than a diversified fund.

The Fund may buy securities of gold and precious metals operation companies located anywhere in the world and in general invests predominantly in companies located outside the U.S. The Fund may invest in companies without regard to market capitalization, including small- and mid-capitalization companies. The Fund primarily invests in equity securities, primarily common stock. The Fund also invests in American, Global and European Depositary Receipts.

The Fund’s investment manager looks for companies with established track records, as well as companies having low-cost reserves to bring into production, particularly companies with multiple mines, attractive production profiles, strong reserve bases, and active exploration programs that can drive future reserve and production growth.
Strategy Portfolio Concentration [Text] rr_StrategyPortfolioConcentration Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in securities of gold and precious metals operation companies.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

You could lose money by investing in the Fund. Mutual fund shares are not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank, and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board, or any other agency of the U.S. government.

Gold and Precious Metals

The prices of gold and precious metals operation companies are affected by the price of gold or other precious metals such as platinum, palladium and silver, as well as other prevailing market conditions. These prices may be volatile, fluctuating substantially over short periods of time. In times of stable economic growth, traditional equity and debt investments could offer greater appreciation potential and the prices of gold and other precious metals may be adversely affected.

The prices of gold and other precious metals are affected by such factors as: (1) how much of the worldwide supply is held by large holders, such as governmental bodies and central banks; (2) unpredictable monetary policies and economic and political conditions in countries throughout the world; and (3) demand for gold bullion as an investment, including in bar form.

The prices of gold and precious metals operation companies are directly affected by: (1) capital costs, as well as, labor, and other costs in mining and production; (2) adverse currency fluctuations in the countries where these companies operate; (3) labor disruptions; (4) operational issues and failures; (5) access to reliable energy and equipment supplies; and (6) changes in laws relating to mining, production, or sales. These factors may result in deviations between the prices of the underlying metals and the securities of the operation companies in which the Fund invests. In addition, some gold and precious metals mining companies have hedged, to varying degrees, their exposure to falls in the price of gold or precious metals by selling forward future production, which could limit the company’s benefit from future rises in the price of gold or precious metals or increase the risk that the company could fail to meet its contractual obligations. With respect to mining companies, mining operations have varying expected life spans and companies that have mines with a short expected life span may experience more stock price volatility.

Market

The market prices of securities owned by the Fund will go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. A security’s market price may be reduced by market activity or other results of supply and demand unrelated to the issuer. This is a basic risk associated with all securities. When there are more sellers than buyers, prices tend to fall. Likewise, when there are more buyers than sellers, prices tend to rise.

Individual stock prices tend to go up and down more dramatically than those of other types of investments.

Foreign Securities

Investing in foreign securities typically involves more risks than investing in U.S. securities, and includes risks associated with: political and economic developments - the political, economic and social structures of some foreign countries may be less stable and more volatile than those in the U.S.; trading practices - government supervision and regulation of foreign securities and currency markets, trading systems and brokers may be less than in the U.S.; availability of information - foreign issuers may not be subject to the same disclosure, accounting and financial reporting standards and practices as U.S. issuers; limited markets - the securities of certain foreign issuers may be less liquid (harder to sell) and more volatile; and currency exchange rate fluctuations and policies. The risks of foreign investments may be greater in developing or emerging market countries.

Smaller and Midsize Companies

Securities issued by smaller and midsize companies may be more volatile in price than those of larger companies, involve substantial risks and should be considered speculative. Such risks may include greater sensitivity to economic conditions, less certain growth prospects, lack of depth of management and funds for growth and development and limited or less developed product lines and markets. In addition, smaller and midsize companies may be particularly affected by interest rate increases, as they may find it more difficult to borrow money to continue or expand operations, or may have difficulty in repaying any loans.

Concentration

By focusing on an industry or a group of industries, the Fund carries much greater risks of adverse developments and price movements in such industries than a fund that invests in a wider variety of industries. Because the Fund concentrates in a specific industry or group of industries, there is also the risk that the Fund will perform poorly during a slump in demand for securities of companies in such industries.

Non-Diversification

Because the Fund is non-diversified, it may be more sensitive to economic, business, political or other changes affecting similar issuers or investments than a diversified fund, which may result in greater fluctuation in the value of the Fund’s shares and greater risk of loss.

Management

The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed investment portfolio. The Fund's investment manager applies investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but there can be no guarantee that these decisions will produce the desired results.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text] rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus Because the Fund is non-diversified, it may be more sensitive to economic, business, political or other changes affecting similar issuers or investments than a diversified fund, which may result in greater fluctuation in the value of the Fund’s shares and greater risk of loss
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund's performance from year to year for Class A shares. The table shows how the Fund's average annual returns for 1 year, 5 years, 10 years or since inception, as applicable, compared with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. You can obtain updated performance information at franklintempleton.com or by calling (800) DIAL BEN/342-5236.

The secondary index in the table below shows how the Fund's performance compares to a group of securities that aligns more closely with the Fund's investment strategies.

Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund's performance from year to year for Class A shares. The table shows how the Fund's average annual returns for 1 year, 5 years, 10 years or since inception, as applicable, compared with those of a broad measure of market performance.
Performance Availability Phone [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone (800) DIAL BEN/342-5236
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress franklintempleton.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading CLASS A ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock
Best Quarter:Q1'0227.15%
Worst Quarter:Q3'08-32.41%
As of September 30, 2012, the Fund's year-to-date return was -1.67%.
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS
(figures reflect sales charges)

For the periods ended December 31, 2011
Performance Table Closing [Text Block] rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock

The after-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A and after-tax returns for other classes will vary.
Franklin Gold and Precious Metals Fund | S&P 500® Index
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 2.11%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (0.25%)
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 2.92%
Franklin Gold and Precious Metals Fund | FTSE Gold Mines Index(Total Return Index)
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (15.06%) [1]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 7.24% [1]
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 15.80% [1]
Franklin Gold and Precious Metals Fund | Class A
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Cumulative Sales Charge (as a percentage of Offering Price) rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice 5.75%
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (as a percentage of Offering Price) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Management Fees (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.45%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other Expenses (as a percentage of Assets): rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.26%
Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.96%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 667
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 863
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,075
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,685
Annual Return 2002 rr_AnnualReturn2002 37.38%
Annual Return 2003 rr_AnnualReturn2003 52.32%
Annual Return 2004 rr_AnnualReturn2004 (5.47%)
Annual Return 2005 rr_AnnualReturn2005 40.59%
Annual Return 2006 rr_AnnualReturn2006 31.70%
Annual Return 2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 25.59%
Annual Return 2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (30.89%)
Annual Return 2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 69.56%
Annual Return 2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 49.21%
Annual Return 2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 (24.84%)
Year to Date Return, Label rr_YearToDateReturnLabel As of September 30, 2012, the Fund's year-to-date return was -1.67%.
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter:
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Mar. 31, 2002
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 27.15%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter:
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (32.41%)
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return Before Taxes
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (29.16%)
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 9.24%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 19.00%
Franklin Gold and Precious Metals Fund | Class A | After Taxes on Distributions
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (29.94%)
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 7.17%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 17.69%
Franklin Gold and Precious Metals Fund | Class A | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (18.38%)
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 7.15%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 16.80%
Franklin Gold and Precious Metals Fund | Class B
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Cumulative Sales Charge (as a percentage of Offering Price) rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none [2]
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (as a percentage of Offering Price) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice 4.00% [2]
Management Fees (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.45%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%
Other Expenses (as a percentage of Assets): rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.26%
Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.71%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 574
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 839
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,128
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,821
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 174
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 539
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 928
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 1,821
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (28.24%)
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 9.44%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 19.00%
Franklin Gold and Precious Metals Fund | Class C
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Cumulative Sales Charge (as a percentage of Offering Price) rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (as a percentage of Offering Price) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice 1.00%
Management Fees (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.45%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%
Other Expenses (as a percentage of Assets): rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.26%
Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.71%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 274
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 539
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 928
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,019
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 174
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 539
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 928
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 2,019
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (26.11%)
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 9.72%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 18.83%
Franklin Gold and Precious Metals Fund | Advisor Class
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Cumulative Sales Charge (as a percentage of Offering Price) rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (as a percentage of Offering Price) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Management Fees (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.45%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses (as a percentage of Assets): rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.26%
Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.71%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 73
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 227
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 395
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 883
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (24.64%)
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 10.82%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 20.01%
[1] FTSE Gold Mines Index (Total Return Index) is replacing the FTSE Gold Mines Index (Price-Only Index) as the Fund’s secondary benchmark. The investment manager believes the composition of the FTSE Gold Mines Index (Total Return Index) more accurately reflects the Fund’s holdings.
[2] New or additional investments into Class B are no longer permitted.