How earthquakes build beefy gold nuggets
Strain from a temblor can generate voltages in quartz veins that stimulate gold mineralization
![A bit of gold nestled inside a quartz block.](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/090524_no_earthquakes-gold_feat.jpg?fit=1030%2C580&ssl=1)
Quartz generates an electrical voltage when it is strained, and during earthquakes this characteristic may stimulate the deposition of gold.