- Placer deposits: These are formed by the erosion and transportation of gold-bearing rocks and minerals. The gold is deposited in stream beds and river gravels, where it can be easily found by panning.
- Lode deposits: These are veins or zones of gold-bearing rock that are found in the earth's crust. These deposits are typically mined by underground methods.
- Disseminated deposits: These are deposits in which the gold is dispersed throughout the rock. These deposits are typically mined by open-pit methods.
- Residual deposits: These are deposits that are formed by the weathering of gold-bearing rocks. The gold is left behind as the other minerals are eroded away. These deposits are typically mined by open-pit methods.
Gold can also be found in the ocean, but it is present in very low concentrations. It is estimated that there is approximately 10 parts of gold per billion parts of seawater. This makes it very difficult to extract gold from the ocean, and it is not currently a viable commercial operation.
