Gold quartz consists of milky or translucent quartz containing visible inclusions of native gold, typically formed in hydrothermal veins. Collectors look for high-contrast specimens where the bright yellow metallic gold is embedded in stark white quartz matrix. It is highly sought after by lapidary artists for creating unique cabochons and jewelry pieces.
Is this gold quartz?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch gold quartz with a known reference. Gold Quartz sits at Mohs 7 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Gold Quartz leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Gold Quartz typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, gray, yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: massive, vein filling.
Often confused with
Gold Quartz vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside gold quartz
Minerals reported to co-occur with gold quartz. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- SiO₂
- Mohs hardness
- 7
- Density
- 2.65 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Vein Filling
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector, Lapidary, Jewelry
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Quartz Veins
- Typical price
- $10-100 per specimen
Where rockhounds find gold quartz
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- California, USA
- Victoria, Australia
- Nova Scotia, Canada
- Quebec, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal quartz veins country — that is the host setting where gold quartz typically forms. If you start seeing gold, pyrite, arsenopyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, vein filling habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in California — start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify gold quartz?+
Where is gold quartz found?+
Can I find gold quartz in the United States?+
How much is gold quartz worth?+
What rocks look like gold quartz?+
What minerals are found with gold quartz?+
What kind of rock does gold quartz form in?+
What is gold quartz used for?+
Find gold quartz on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
