Close To The Source - Good Indicators

We all spend some time checking the quartz in our classifier before tossing...just out of curiosity. I mean you never know when that one piece of quartz will have something of value attached to it. I recently visited with a geologist who just returned from teaching a 3 week course on placer mining in California. Man, what I'd give to be seated in that class ! During my short visit, he produced 3 pieces of quartz and explained to me what I was seeing and how it related to my search for the source of placer deposits. This first piece is some very white quartz with fresh pyrite. Don't let the pyrite fool you (fools gold),



This second piece is nowhere near as white as the first and the pyrite is now oxidized and showing hematite. Ok, we're getting close to the good stuff.

There may be gold sulfides locked up within the quartz but only leaching will extract it.
Now then, this quartz piece is beyond the white stage and is mostly grey. You'll see grey viens running throught it and if you look at the top left of the piece, you'll see visible "free milling" gold.

(Click pics for closer view)

This is definately some hi-grade ore and if you find this in your classifier, jump up and down and holler EUREKA !!! This is what you're looking for as you sample a creek for the source of the placer deposits. If you find this, mark the spot and keep searching upstream. If the upstream search produces nothing further, return to your original spot and look uphill. Is there a gulch or dry ravine? If so, sample your way up in an inverted V shape and follow the color. This could be the day you discover the Mother Lode and become a hard rock miner.