Welcome Brian,

two types of gold
placer, that found on/in the ground/gravels
hard rock, gold that has not been liberated from quartz rock. Drilling, blasting, crushing, processing

If you find gold still attached to quartz, do not separate, that qualifies as a specimen piece, worth more than just gold. Especially if its a larger piece that would make a nice jewelry piece say for someone special.

Definition of a "picker" If you can pick it out of the pan with your fingers
Nugget is bigger than a picker
If you find something that is to heavy to move yourself, call me and I will help you recover it

Go back to the spot and work it, it may be just a one off that you found something in the roots, but then again, it could be something bigger.

Not all quartz will have gold in it, not all gold will be found with black sands, and not all black sand will hold gold.
One never knows what one may find, bottom line is you gotta look, sample, test.
Try a detector, try everything, ya never know.

Good Luck,
Bill