What Kinds of Ore Contain Gold and Where Can They Be Found?

Recycle and Refine GoldRecycle Precious Metals
Written By Barry Lenson

Let’s say that you found a magic lantern, you rubbed it, and a genie came out and said, “I will grant you any wish you want?” (We have changed the story so that Gene the Genie only offers you one wish, not the traditional three.)

What would you wish for? If you are an enthusiastic investor in precious metals, you would probably wish for something like this . . . 

“I would like to go hunting for gold anywhere I want on Earth for one year.”

That’s a great wish that Gene might grant you. But if he did, where would you go, and what would you hunt for? Let’s look at the ores around the world that contain gold and give you a rough idea of where they can be found.

Remember, gold can be found in various types of ores that occur in nature. Most often, you will find mining companies have set up operations to extract them from the ground. In other cases, those mining companies once had set up operations in those locations to mine gold but have since extracted all the gold they could from the ground and have shut down. 

But during your year-long excursion, here are some of the most plentiful varieties of gold ore you will be looking for.

Carlin-Type Gold Deposits 

These are sedimentary rock-hosted gold deposits found in Nevada. They are named after the Carlin mine, which is one of the largest gold mines in the world. Carlin-type deposits are characterized by fine-grained disseminated gold in sedimentary rocks that have been altered by hydrothermal fluids.

Epithermal Gold Deposits 

Epithermal gold deposits are found in many parts of the world, including Newfoundland and Australia. These are vein-type gold deposits formed in the upper part of the Earth's crust. They are typically found in volcanic rocks associated with hot springs and geysers. Epithermal deposits are often high-grade but small in size.

Porphyry Gold Deposits 

Found in the Andes Mountains in South America, these are copper-gold deposits found in large igneous intrusions, or porphyries. They are typically low-grade but large. 

Witwatersrand Gold Deposits 

These are gold deposits found in sedimentary rock, most commonly in South Africa. They are the largest gold deposits in the world and have been mined for over a century. Witwatersrand deposits have deposits of pebbles that contain quartz, pyrite, and gold.

Other types of gold deposits include alluvial deposits, which are placer deposits formed by the accumulation of gold particles in rivers and streams, and refractory gold deposits, which are characterized by the presence of gold that is difficult to extract due to its association with other minerals. The most famous areas include the Yukon and northern California, the areas explored by prospectors during the Great Gold Rush in the 19th Century. 

Remember that gold is found in various parts of the world, but some of the major gold-producing countries include Australia, Canada, China, Russia, South Africa, and the United States.

And When You Bring Home that Gold Scrap and Ore . . .

Call our precious metal refiners at 800-426-2344. We can test your discoveries, tell you how much gold they contain and what they are worth at current trading prices. Then, per your instructions, we can extract the gold scrap they contain and pay you for it at current high trading prices. Give us a call at 800-426-2344. 

Barry Lenson
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