How to Find Silver Inside Quartz

Search for quartz in any rocky area, since quartz can be found in almost any geological area on Earth. Try Idaho, Nevada and Arizona in particular, since these states are known to mine a great deal more silver than other U.S. states. Look for quartz that is mostly clear or a milky white color with gray streaks in any shade. Avoid quartz with black or brown streaks because this is smoky quartz.

Examine your rocks carefully by holding them up to a light. If the gray streaks on the rock become shiny or bright in the light, there's a good chance you have silver in your quartz since silver is a natural reflector of light. Extremely dark gray streaks that do not reflect light could indicate hematite instead of silver.

Use magnets or metal detectors to see if there is a magnetic pull with the metals in your quartz. Crush your rock into smaller granules with a hammer. Examine the smaller pieces with gray streaks again to determine how much they shine in the light. Use a magnet or metal detector again to see if any loose particles come out of the rubble. Try placing the rock particles in a plastic bag with a fresh boiled egg to see if the sulfuric acid corrodes the gray parts of the rock.

Take the pieces of your rock to a jeweler if you are still unsure to determine if there is silver in your quartz. Take the rock pieces to the geology or chemistry department at your local university or college if it contains silver to have the metal extracted through chemical heat, electrical or water extraction methods.