Earthquakes Can Make Gold

While many geological processes unfold over millennia, the formation of gold veins can happen in a geological blink of an eye. Deep within the Earth's crust, networks of cracks and faults are filled with superheated, mineral-rich fluids. Held under immense pressure, this water can carry high concentrations of dissolved silica (quartz) and precious metals like gold. These fault zones act as a high-pressure plumbing system, primed for a dramatic change.

The trigger for this instantaneous mineral formation is an earthquake. When a fault slips, it can suddenly open up a void, causing the pressure to plummet. This drop is so rapid and extreme that the superheated water explosively vaporizes into steam, a process known as flash vaporization. The dissolved minerals, unable to remain suspended in the steam, are forced to crystallize almost instantly, plating the newly exposed rock surfaces with veins of gold-bearing quartz.

This process is incredibly efficient. A single, moderate earthquake of around magnitude 4 can deposit a significant amount of material in a fraction of a second. Over millions of years, repeated seismic events along the same fault system can build upon these deposits, creating the rich lode veins that have been the target of prospectors for centuries. It’s a violent, fleeting event that creates one of nature’s most prized and stable materials.