sedimentary
Gold-bearing Quartz / Auriferous River Rock
Lode Gold in Quartz Matrix (SiO2 + Au)
Hardness: 7 (quartz matrix), Color: Olive green to rusty brown with metallic glints, Luster: Vitreous to greasy, Crystal structure: Hexagonal (quartz), Cleavage: None/Conchoidal
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (quartz matrix), Color: Olive green to rusty brown with metallic glints, Luster: Vitreous to greasy, Crystal structure: Hexagonal (quartz), Cleavage: None/Conchoidal
Formation & geological history
Formed via hydrothermal veins where gold-rich fluids crystallized in quartz fractures, subsequently eroded into riverbeds and smoothed by water action over thousands of years.
Uses & applications
Primarily collected for gold specimen value, prospecting indicators, or crushed for industrial gold extraction.
Geological facts
This specimen appears to be a water-worn river rock with potential sulfide or gold inclusions; 'river gold' specimens are often found in metamorphic or volcanic belts.
Field identification & locations
Identify by looking for high specific gravity and metallic flecks that do not shatter when poked with a needle (malleability). Commonly found in alluvial deposits.
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