mineral

Gold-bearing quartz vein rock

Milky quartz (SiO₂) with probable native gold and iron-oxide staining

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness about 7 for quartz; white to gray, vitreous to dull luster, massive granular texture, no obvious cleavage, and specific gravity around 2.65. The yellow metallic-looking areas may be native gold, but could also be iron oxides such as limonite or pyrite; the image alone cannot confirm them.

Identified September 22, 2026More mineral →

Explore Gold-bearing quartz vein rock in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Quartz precipitated from hot hydrothermal fluids filling fractures, commonly in metamorphic or igneous host rocks; the vein age may range from Precambrian to much younger depending on locality. Gold, if genuine, was deposited with or later concentrated in the quartz vein.

Uses & applications

Collected as a mineral specimen and occasionally crushed for gold recovery; quartz itself is widely used in glass, abrasives, electronics, and engineered stone. Attractive gold-bearing pieces have decorative and lapidary appeal.

Geological facts

Native gold is malleable, very dense, and remains bright yellow; pyrite is brittle and brassy, while limonite is earthy and nonmetallic. An assay or specific tests are needed to identify the yellow material reliably.

Field identification & locations

Common in hydrothermal gold districts worldwide, including California, Nevada, Australia, Canada, and South Africa. Test suspected gold with a streak, hardness, density, and professional assay rather than relying on color.