placer deposit
/ˈpleɪsər dɛˈpɒzɪt/ · plas.er.de.pos.it
noun
- A deposit of valuable minerals, such as gold or platinum, that has been concentrated by natural forces, such as water or wind, and is found in a secondary location, often in a stream bed or river valley. The placer deposit in the California goldfields was a major source of gold during the Gold Rush era.
- A type of mineral deposit that forms through the accumulation of heavy minerals in a stream or river bed, often as a result of erosion and transportation. The geologist studied the placer deposit to understand the geological history of the region.
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Did you know? Placer deposits have been a source of valuable minerals for thousands of years, with evidence of placer mining dating back to ancient civilizations in Egypt, Greece, and Rome.