mineral

Gold-bearing Quartz

Auriferous Quartz (SiO2 with native Au)

Hardness: 7 (Quartz) / 2.5-3 (Gold); Color: Grayish-white quartz with yellowish metallic inclusions; Luster: Vitreous to greasy (quartz) / Metallic (gold); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal; Cleavage: None

Hardness: 7 (Quartz) / 2
Color: Grayish-white quartz with yellowish metallic inclusions
Luster: Vitreous to greasy (quartz) / Metallic (gold)

Identified June 5, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal veins where hot, mineral-rich fluids circulate through fractures in the earth's crust, typically during orogenic (mountain-building) events. The gold precipitates out of the fluid along with the silica.

Uses & applications

Major source of industrial and investment gold; specimens are highly prized by mineral collectors and used in high-end jewelry.

Geological facts

Quartz is the most common gangue mineral associated with gold. Many of the world's most famous gold rushes, such as the California Gold Rush, were centered on 'lode' deposits found in quartz veins.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by looking for 'rusty' or stained quartz (iron oxidation) and checking for heavy, malleable yellow inclusions that do not shatter when poked (unlike pyrite). This specimen shows typical 'vuggy' and fractured quartz texture.

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