We all have pretty pictures of banded, bladed and sulfide-rich (ginguro) epithermal veins, but there is also a methodology for the systematic description and interpretation of the textures in epithermal quartz veins represented by the well distributed cartoon. Empirical observations suggest that quite specific textural assemblages are characteristic of vertical position in relation to the boiling zone in many epithermal vein systems. The methodology can be used in the field to locate favorable zones for mineralisation, and in conjunction with structural, paragenetic, geochemical and alteration studies to predict the location of ore shoots.