Lode gold refers to gold found within its original bedrock host, typically embedded in quartz veins resulting from hydrothermal activity. Collectors look for crystalline or wire-like forms within massive quartz matrices, which distinguish lode samples from water-worn placer gold nuggets.
Is this lode gold?
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 lode gold with a known reference. Lode Gold sits at Mohs 2.5-3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Lode Gold leaves a golden-yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Lode Gold typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: gold-yellow, brass-yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: nuggets, dendritic, wire, leaf, octahedral crystals.
Often confused with
Lode Gold vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Pyrite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-6.5 vs. 2.5-3); streak differs, so Lode Gold leaves golden-yellow, Pyrite leaves greenish-black to brownish-black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Lode Gold leaves golden-yellow, Chalcopyrite leaves greenish-black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Lode Gold leaves golden-yellow, Muscovite leaves white; luster reads metallic on Lode Gold and pearly on Muscovite.
Often found alongside lode gold
Minerals reported to co-occur with lode gold. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Au
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5-3
- Density
- 19.3 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Golden-yellow
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Nuggets, Dendritic, Wire, Leaf, Octahedral Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Investment, Jewelry, Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Quartz Veins
- Typical price
- $100-500 per gram based on purity and specimen quality
Where rockhounds find lode gold
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Witwatersrand Basin, South Africa
- Kalgoorlie, Australia
- Carlin Trend, USA
- Muruntau, Uzbekistan
- Kolar Gold Fields, India
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal quartz veins country, the host setting where lode gold typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, pyrite, arsenopyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a nuggets, dendritic, wire, leaf, octahedral crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Utah. Start trip planning there.
More lode gold photos
Common questions
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Find lode gold on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
