Most gold hobbyists are looking for placer deposits which is a secondary gold source. Small nuggets and flakes are often carried away from its original location, so riverbeds (bench deposits), ancient river channels, and creeks are considered hot spots. This type of gold was freed from its original form from rocks and other minerals due to mining, erosion, and other types of disintegration.
Lode deposits consist of gold locked within its pure form in rock and often requires industrial forms of mining. Types of rock and natural indicators that may hint to gold deposits nearby include Quartz, Alluvium, Iron Oxides (Magnetite and Hematite), red soil (rich in iron), and Chalcopyrite (“Fool’s Gold).
However, the rock type is largely irrelevant because gold can be found in various types of rock. It’s best to learn what the indicators are that show gold has been pushed to the surface and made contact with the rock types in that area. To improve your gold hunting goals, be sure to research geology contact zones prior to buying your gold detector so you can effectively determine what features you will need for that hunting site, region, or country.