Yeah gold's everywhere around here. I don't even bother with it anymore. It's heavy stuff, too. Got tired of lugging all those bags out of the woods.
But, I believe the golden colored platy animal you are seeing in that piece of quartz is Mica. Mica is a good sign. Other minerals, and crystals, like to grow in Mica. Good to take a close look when you see Mica. And you may want to start soaking some of your rocks in some Iron Out also. It will clean the stains up. It's up to about $20 a bottle, a powder you mix with water found at Lowes or Home Depot.
Once it cools off, a lot, I see a lot of digging in your future. 

Hydrochloric will dissolve some minerals and Oxalic will dull some. Iron Out is the simplest, easiest, and best. 1 cup to a gallon of water to start. You'll figure out your own ratios as you experiment with it.
Use a 5-gallon bucket with a top and let it sit for 24-48 hours to start. Then soak in rinse water for 24 hours. Just hold your breath and watch out for the fumes especially when first mixing powder into the water. It'll bubble for a little while before settling down.

The "scallop shell" pattern seen most easily in your last two pictures looks like barite to me.

Looks like a whole different animal now doesn't it!
Now you can get a better look at it!
Screening is a good idea, specially if you know there's some mineral worth collecting in the material. I don't think you're missing too much. We'd probably be able to see it in the rough, but it's always good to take a look and see.
Glad you got Formative Cultures. You will get to know that book real well.