I would recommend a X80 power loupe looking at the quartz and spot checking it for gold. I'd also recommend getting a couple of golf ball sized rocks of the type of quarts in your area that has gold, crushing it and panning it. In my area its the white quartz with lots of black brown minerals in it that would contain the gold.

You're really looking for placer gold, and with a pointer or metal detector is way too small to find. Of course use the pointer and metal detector like you said, but if you find gold lode gold with a metal detector, you're on to a rare find. The smaller flakes are much, much more comon than the nuggets.

You can even sample downstream of this outcropping, but if its a dry creek without water, makes it difficult.

I've yet to find lode gold from quartz outcropping, so good luck.

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I have a small magnifying scope I can use. I need to find a steel mortar and pestle somewhere that I can crush with.

Edward,

Look for dirty quartz meaning, rust colored like the quartz is rusty
or a redish color, any discoloration
I also agree with Chrisropher, in that unless there is a large nugget close to the surface, your MDs probably wont see it

Bill