Minerals Associated with Natural Gold

Searching for gold can be a very difficult task unless you know the signs of where gold might be present. Theoretically, gold can be found in many different places because the metals are not generated on Earth, but rather are the remains of ancient meteors and other sources from outer space that dropped gold onto the planet billions of years ago.

However, there are certain rocks and minerals that are associated with the location of gold which can help you zero in on a potential source. While the number of rock and mineral types number in the billions, there are only a relative few that are associated with the location of gold. This means by finding these rocks and minerals you can increase your chances of finding the gold as well.

 

What Types of Rocks and Minerals are Associated with Gold?

 

There are a number of different rocks and minerals that are found near gold or are part of gold deposits. By starting your search for these rocks and minerals, you are essentially looking for a broader footprint of where the gold might be.

Magnesium Ferric: This is a type of mineral that can help you find the gold. They are usually dark colored and often will have black or red tinges on the sides. This type of mineral is usually a big clue that gold may be nearby because of its association with gold.

Chalcopyrite: Otherwise known as “Fool’s Gold” this is the stuff of old Western movies and other legends where the hearty gold miners were subsequently fooled into thinking that this rock was actually gold itself. However, Fool’s Gold is often found near actual gold deposits and serves as a sign that real gold is close at hand. You can often find this pyrite in creek beds while panning for gold. If you find it, take heart that while it is not real gold, you may actually find gold nearby.

Iron, Lead, Pyrite and Magnetite: These are heavier metals and minerals that are often associated with the location of gold deposits. This is because such metals, rocks and minerals are formed around gold veins which then break off and spread out away from the gold itself. Such heavy minerals and metals offer a clue that gold just may be around the corner.

Malachite/Azurite: This is a pretty, semi-precious stone that is green in color and often found near gold deposits. This means that if you find this particular mineral, you will want to expand your search around it to find the gold itself.

 

Planning Your Search

 

Now that you know what to look for, the next step is actually finding these rocks and minerals so that you can then find the gold. For the most part, you will be searching in creek beds and other, similar locations where gold has been carried downstream due to the erosion process.

In these streams, you will want to search for gold as well as the minerals listed above in places such as the cracks in the rocks and along the bottom of streambeds where these heavier materials can be found. When you find one or more of these rocks or minerals, you know that you are on the right track.

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