Why is gold frequently located in quartz rock?

Very generally because the solubility of silica and gold in high temperature (hydrothermal) solutions are affected by the same thermodynamic controls at lower temperatures. read more

Gold is one of the most elements chemically inactive with most of other elements or compounds. silica or quartz is the last mineral to be coold or crystallized from the magma or from hydrothermal solutions therefore it remains in liquid state for very long time so it has a chance to collect stable metals like gold normally in vein-like occurences. read more

Quartz is common, gold is rare. Quartz veins typically form when very hot water rising from depth flows into a shallow crack in the rock. The dissolved silica precipitates as quartz. If there is gold present in the water, it will also precipitate. The result is a quartz vein. The hot water may come from a number of places. read more

So when you find Quartz, especially Milky Quartz, you are on the right track for Gold. The process is called"Precipitation" and as the Metals/ minerals re- deposit into the Voids the Gold separates out to the Bottom. the Lighter metals will be found above. read more

Visible gold in quartz is relatively uncommon: most productive gold mines are either dredge based for alluvial (moved by water) deposits, or cyanide float or mercury extraction of microscopic gold particles, either distributed in soil or hard rock (often quartz bearing) that are too small to see with the naked eye. read more

Gold is easy to spot in white quartz. Use your geology hammer and sledge to break open quartz and potential gold-bearing rocks. Place an iron or steel anvil in a large flat pan to prevent loss of rock powder and contained gold. Look for large pieces of gold that you can collect manually or with tweezers. read more