Prospectors searching for gold laden ore, look for outcrops of milky white quartz veins. Many of the most beautiful gold specimens are the ones that have the lacy gold extruding from the pure white milky quartz. Milky quartz is only one of several different quartz varieties. Amethyst is the purple gemstone variety. Citrine is a yellow to orange gemstone variety that is rare in nature but is often created by heating Amethyst.
Rock crystal is the clear variety that is also used as a gemstone.
Rose quartz is a pink to reddish pink variety. Smoky quartz is the brown to gray variety. Agate is a general term for several microscopic quartz varieties.