mineral

Gold-bearing quartz (quartz with visible native gold)

Quartz (SiO₂) with native gold (Au)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

White to cream, translucent quartz with brassy-yellow metallic patches; quartz hardness 7 Mohs and vitreous luster, gold hardness 2.5–3 and malleable. Quartz has a trigonal crystal structure and no cleavage; specimen appears massive and fractured.

Identified September 29, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Quartz veins form when hot, mineral-rich fluids fill fractures, commonly in metamorphic or igneous terranes; gold precipitates in the veins as fluids cool. Formation age depends on the deposit and cannot be determined from the image.

Uses & applications

Quartz is used in glass, electronics, and construction; native gold is valued for jewelry, investment, and collecting. Gold-bearing specimens are chiefly collector pieces.

Geological facts

The bright metallic material could be native gold, but visual appearance alone cannot confirm it; pyrite or another sulfide can look similar.

Field identification & locations

Gold is soft and malleable, while pyrite is harder and brittle; definitive identification may require streak, density, or laboratory testing. Gold-quartz veins occur worldwide, including California, Australia, and South Africa.