mineral

Native gold-bearing quartz/ore fragment

Native gold (Au) with quartz (SiO₂), possibly sulfide-associated

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Visible metallic yellow grains suggest gold, with whitish-gray quartz and possibly dark sulfide minerals. Gold is Mohs 2.5–3, very dense (specific gravity ~19.3), malleable, and metallic; quartz is Mohs 7 with vitreous luster and no cleavage.

Identified August 31, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Likely a hydrothermal vein fragment formed when hot, mineral-rich fluids deposited quartz and gold in fractures, commonly during Precambrian to younger mountain-building events. The image alone cannot establish geological age or confirm gold conclusively.

Uses & applications

Gold is used in jewelry, electronics, dentistry, and investment; quartz is used in glass, abrasives, and construction. Attractive ore specimens have modest collector interest.

Geological facts

Gold retains a bright yellow color and bends or smears rather than crumbling; pyrite (“fool’s gold”) is harder, brittle, and often brassy. Identification requires testing or laboratory analysis.

Field identification & locations

Commonly found in quartz veins and placer deposits, especially in regions such as Western Australia, California, Alaska, Canada, and Ghana. A streak, density, hardness, acid, or professional assay test is needed for verification.