Which mineral is often formed in areas with intense tectonic activity?

Gold is often formed in areas with intense tectonic activity due to the processes associated with hydrothermal systems. These systems occur when magma heats groundwater, causing it to dissolve various minerals, including gold. As the hot, mineral-rich fluids move through fractures and permeable rocks, they can deposit gold in concentrated areas as the fluids cool and pressure changes occur. This geological process explains why gold deposits are frequently associated with active tectonic regions, such as those near divergent or convergent plate boundaries.

In contrast, quartz is a very stable mineral that forms in a variety of environments, including sedimentary and igneous, but it is not specifically indicative of intense tectonic activity. Calcite typically forms in sedimentary environments, often from biological processes, and does not require tectonic activity for its formation. Coal is formed from the accumulation of organic material in swampy environments under low-energy conditions, and it is not formed through tectonic processes. Thus, gold is the mineral most closely linked with tectonic movements and their associated geological phenomena.