Precious Metals

Vein gold is deposited by hot subterranean water known as a hydrothermal fluid. Hydrothermal fluids circulate through rock to leach small amounts of gold from large volumes of rock and then deposit it in fractures to form veins. Major U.S. gold vein deposits have been discovered at Lead in the Black Hills of South Dakota and at Cripple Creek on the slopes of Pike's Peak, Colorado. Important vein deposits are also found in Canada and Australia. All these important deposits where located following the discovery of placer gold in nearby streams.