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.

So, gold in quartz veins will solidify into clusters that grow bigger every time an earthquake occurs. To date, the largest orogenic gold nuggets weigh approximately 130 pounds.

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 ...

Quartz deposits in fault zones might experience thousands of earthquakes, Voisey says. The shaking ground puts strain on the deposits, generating piezoelectricity, and creates cracks where gold ...

Quartz happens to be an insulator, so this electric potential doesn't easily dissipate on its own. It can, however, be eliminated through the transfer of electrons to or from any materials that ...

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.