Scientists are intrigued by how gold nuggets form, often tucked in quartz veins. The process seems to involve earthquakes and ...

Further examinations revealed that electricity generated during earthquakes could form nuggets inside quartz veins, according to Earth.com. This process happens due to piezoelectricity, which causes ...

of how the precious metal came to be available in disparate forms, and how some gold-ore deposits might have been formed.

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 ...