Is it possible to determine where gold might be found based on a map, and if so, how?
On of the issues with geological maps is they have all required humans to walk over the ground and mark on a piece of paper the surface expressions of different types of rock and geological structures, such as faults and folds.

Because of this process and the time constraints placed on people when they mapped the land there will always be some level of detail missing.

Geological maps will show the different rock types and geological structures on the surface but they may not necessarily show what is at depth.

Geology has advanced to a state where most well trained geologist will know the potential for certain rock types to host certain type of mineral deposits, including gold. However, pinpointing where a gold deposit, or any other mineral deposit is located will always require a human to walk the ground and inspect it in more detail and to take samples and have them analyzed in a laboratory.

Initially those samples may be geochemical samples, others will be rock samples and chips taken from the surface or trenches dug into the surface, culminating in drill samples being taken.

To further assist where to look, geophysical testing methods may be used, such a magnetic anomaly testing or ground electrical resistivity testing.

It is very unlikely that anyone will be able to look at a geological map, and with any degree of certainty say "there is a gold deposit" or "there is a gold deposit that is economic to mine". More likely, a person will look at a geological map and say something like, "there is a greenstone belt, this may have potential to host a gold deposit, further investigation is needed".

There is an adage amongst some geologists that states "gold is where you find it". There is no altitude preferable for finding gold deposits. It's found in mountains, in deserts, in forests, under salt lakes, even dissolved in the oceans. The oceans contain the largest quantities of gold, but it is uneconomic to extract it from sea water because the concentration are so low.

Biological indicators, such a vegetation may work for some base metals, such as copper, but not necessarily for gold.

Also, gold can occur as a deposit of just gold, but it can also occur in association with other metals in the form of polymetallic deposits which contain gold, silver, copper, lead or zinc, even uranium.

Finally, not all deposits of minerals, gold included, are reserves. To be classified as a reserve and an orebody, a deposit of mineralization must be economic to mine.