Gold naturally forms in quartz — the second-most abundant mineral in Earth's crust after feldspar. But unlike other types of gold deposits, those found in quartz often cluster into giant nuggets.

Quartz crystals produce electricity when they are deformed by mechanical stress, which may explain how enormous chunks of gold can form in inert rock By James Woodford ...

For decades, researchers have known that earthquakes, quartz, and gold were linked—nearly 75% of gold circulating today came from nuggets originally embedded in quartz deposits near faults.

Quartz is made up of about 90 to 95 percent ground up quartz, mixed with about 5 to 10 percent polyester resin and polymers as a binder with pigments for color.

When earthquakes squeeze quartz crystals, the mineral generates electricity that attracts gold particles. Pierre Longnus via Getty Images Earthquakes may help prospectors strike gold: When these ...

But across the thousands of stress episodes mentioned previously, specks of gold accumulate, forming nuggets. Gold accumulating on quartz under an electron microscope. Credit: Dr. Chris Voisey ...