The best rocks to look for gold are usually sedimentary. This is because gold from igneous and metamorphic rock can often be separated from other metals and washed down rivers or into lakes to form secondary deposits. Most commonly you will find gold in quartz veins or calaverite and pyrite.
Alluvium
Alluvium is a loose mixture of clay, silt and sand that has been deposited by flowing water. It is typically found in river beds, deltas, estuaries, and floodplains. It is often rich in gold. The word “alluvium” is derived from the Latin words alluere and alveus, which mean “to wash against.” Alluvial soils are created when solid particles carried by a stream, river or other flowing water are deposited where its velocity is checked, such as a delta or flood plain. This type of soil is also known as alluvial placer. It can be found in many locations around the world.
Gold is usually found in alluvial soils. It may be in the form of fine gold that has been deposited as a result of erosion or in coarser forms, such as small pebbles and gravel. It is also possible for alluvium to contain nuggets, although these are less common. When finding alluvial gold, it is important to distinguish between old alluvium and recent alluvium. This can be determined by examining the color and texture of the soil. Old alluvium has a darker, more compact consistency than recent alluvium, which is lighter and more loosely shaped.
A significant amount of gold can be found in alluvial deposits, particularly when they are concentrated on steep slopes. These deposits can be very rich, but they must be located close to a source of primary gold. In most cases, the gold in alluvial deposits is freed from primary rock by erosion and weathering, and it can be blown downstream by gravity. This can make the process of finding gold in alluvial deposits more difficult.
The ability of alluvial deposits to contain a lot of gold has made them popular with prospectors and miners. They can be easier to mine than hard rock deposits. They can also be found in remote and isolated areas, making them ideal for exploration.
Alluvial gold can be recovered by using a variety of methods. Some are more expensive than others, but all can be successful when done correctly. Alluvial gold can be used to make jewelry or other decorative items.
Intrusive rock
When pressure from magma exerted beneath the Earth’s surface is great enough it can cause the material that makes up the rock of the crust to become molten. The magma can then penetrate into the rock that is already there, and this process is called intrusion. Rock that has been intruded like this is known as igneous rock.
When the magma cools it forms crystals that make up the rock. The cooling time is much longer in the case of intrusive rock, so the crystals can be quite large. This characteristic gives the rock a phaneritic texture, which is visible to the naked eye. It is also possible for the magma to be so hot that it fuses with the surrounding rock and forms an igneous syenitic composition, which is typically very light in color.
Gold is usually found in the form of coarse pyrite and other copper-related metals in these types of rocks. The mineralization is often characterized by a porphyritic texture, in which the gold and copper are disseminated throughout the rock. These deposits occur under volcanoes and are associated with subduction zones. Erosion strips off the overlying volcanic rock to expose the mineralization.
Examples of intrusive igneous rock include granite, gabbro, and diorite. These rocks contain a variety of different minerals, and their chemical composition can vary significantly between layers in the rock. For example, hornblende and biotite can be present in both granite and gabbro. In addition, apatite may be present in all of these rocks. The rock’s composition can be determined by performing petrographic analysis on polished thin sections with a JEOL JCMA 733 mkII electron probe microanalyzer.
The gneiss from this area is a pyroxene and quartz diorite porphyry, which is the most common type of host for copper-gold mineralization. The rock has low Y content, with a value between 5 and 24 ppm. It has a high SiO2 content, indicating that it is alkaline, and its K/Na ratio is low. It has a porphyritic structure, with large plagioclase and hornblende phenocrysts in a fine-grained feldspathic groundmass.
Quartz
Quartz is the second most common mineral on Earth. It forms crystals that are often transparent with sharp, six-sided points and is found in igneous, metamorphic or sedimentary rocks. When gold and quartz are combined, it can create a beautiful gemstone known as chatoyancy. Chatoyancy is a property of certain gems that make them sparkle in response to light and movement. This makes them a favorite choice for engagement rings and other jewelry. When you find this combination in a natural rock, it can be worth quite a bit of money.
This mineral is found in a variety of colors, including clear white, black, pink, red and gray. It can also form nodules, concretionary masses or layered deposits. It breaks consistently with a conchoidal fracture and was one of the first materials used by people to make tools. It is still a popular material for making knives and other cutting instruments.
The presence of gold in quartz veins is usually explained as being due to hydrothermal fluids running through the cracks and encapsulating minuscule amounts of gold over a long period of time. In some cases, the gold can be extracted by mining the quartz and panning for it. High-end jewelers can even use this type of rock to create beautiful and expensive pieces of jewelry.
It is important to note that quartz can contain other precious metals in addition to gold, such as silver and copper. These other metals are rarer, however, and are not commonly associated with gold. In most instances, the gold in quartz veins is associated with iron sulfides such as pyrite and arsenopyrite. These sulfides oxidize to leave behind metallic gold particles.
The gold in quartz is sometimes mixed with other minerals such as mica and feldspar. Mica is a dark, aluminum-rich mineral that can have varying degrees of transparency. It is found in a number of different rock types and is often used in electrical components, semiconductors and solar cells, as well as photomasks and lithographic tools. It is also used in construction, glass making and watches.
Slate
Slate is a foliated metamorphic rock that forms when a sedimentary rock such as shale is subjected to high heat and pressure. It can be black, bluish or purplish grey, or it can be greenish gray in color. When slate is split, it cleaves readily into thin sheets with great tensile strength and durability. The rock is often used for roofs, and it can be found on cliffs and in caves. The cleavage of slate can help to detect gold in a nearby rock layer.
The mineral composition of slate varies and may include minerals such as white mica (illite, smectite and pyrophyllite), quartz, graphite, talc and chlorite. It also contains finely divided hematite, which gives dark slates their color. Green slates contain large amounts of chlorite. The colors of a slate can be determined by its mineral content and the degree to which it is metamorphosed: dark slates owe their color to carbonaceous material; reddish and purple slates are due to hematite and finely divided iron sulfide. Over time, a slate can transition into the foliated metamorphic rock phyllite or schist.
Gold can be associated with these types of rocks and can be found in their layers, as well as in their pebbles or fragments. In addition, gold can be present in a variety of igneous rock deposits, such as those within granite or gneiss. In these deposits, it is generally deposited together with quartz reefs, which are veins in the rock.
A gold-bearing slate may be identified by its appearance, which is usually lighter in color than the surrounding rock. It may also have a splotchy or speckled appearance. Other signs of gold in a rock deposit include weathered chunks of the gold-bearing slate lying on the ground or smaller quartz pebbles and stones in rivers, streams and gullies near the source.
A rock and mineral kit can be a fun way for kids to learn about the Earth, including how some of its rocks can contain gold. These kits can be purchased at many retailers, such as the Discovery Store.