how does a metal like gold or a crystal like quartz form deep in the earth?

Question

Are there just blobs of gold and quartz floating around in the magma?

Edit: I’m taking an online geology class, so I can’t raise my hand as easily to ask questions. I appreciate your answers. It helps me greatly!!

In: 15

Answer 1

Metal doesn’t form deep in the earth. Any element heavier than iron was formed in a supernova event. It collects deep in the earth because it’s heavy and over the course of billions of years it collects in deep places. Crystals like quartz and most rocks are formed by magma cooling down.