I found Quartz where it shouldnt be.

[Cruces Nomad]

Maybe one of you old hands can help me with a very strange find. I live in the Southwest and wander about in the wilderness as I like the quiet mostly. I have been looking in creeks between what I believe to be a old silver mine and a small lake about a mile away. As my post suggest, I found Quartz, just one good chunk. While the rocks have small amounts of stuff that could be quartz, I have never found a actual piece of quartz. Just glitters in the rocks. I dont have a picture to post. But can if need be. My question is the importance of quartz in a hardrock area that doesnt appear to have any quartz? I dont believe it was carried in by someone. Any ideas as I believe I may be working a fault at the base of a mountain.

 

[Megagold]

Someone should have some answers for you, give them some time to see your post or go to the gold prospecting posts and give the guys a pm directly... Good luck!

 

[Cruces Nomad]

I have a good work up of the area. Just need some input from the more experienced.

 

[Clinebo]

If you found it in a wash or old creek bed it could have been carried there by flood waters. Why do you say it shouldn't be there?

 

[Cruces Nomad]

Thanks for the input Clinebo. It was found in a dry wash coming from a old hard rock mine. There is no quartz anywhere, and I have been all over that peak. It appeared to have lead or silver embedded which is what the mine is marked. When I pan I find very fine silver like in the bottom of the pan. I have moved on hoping to find the buttery looking stuff in the surrounding area.

 

[Clinebo]

Its interesting to me that you just found the one piece. Usually when I find a chunk of quartz, once I start searching the area I find more. Maybe someone was packing it from a more distant source and it fell from their pack or bag.

 

[Cruces Nomad]

Well thats the riddle. Just one golf ball piece. I know there is lava tubes up above. But this piece had been worn almost smooth. I may just hike the dry wash and see if there is and quartz veins up higher.