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placer
This term is used almost exclusively within the context of geology and mining. It refers to deposits of heavy minerals, such as gold or platinum, that have been concentrated by the action of running water. The term implies a natural sorting process where lighter materials are washed away, leaving the denser minerals behind in riverbeds or alluvial fans.
In a professional mining context, a placer deposit is contrasted with a lode deposit, where the mineral is found in its original rock vein. While "placer" functions as a noun to describe the deposit itself, it is frequently used as an attributive noun to modify other terms, such as "placer mining" or "placer gold."
Meanings
Examples
The prospectors spent months searching for a rich gold placer along the riverbank.
Look at this gravel; it looks like a classic placer deposit.
We need to determine if this is a primary source or just a placer.
The river current naturally concentrates heavy minerals into a placer.
I wonder if there is still a hidden placer upstream in these hills.
Placer mining is much simpler than digging deep shafts into the bedrock.
The geologist identified a platinum placer in the ancient stream bed.
They found a massive placer of diamonds in the alluvial sands.
Is this area known for having a significant gold placer?
Is this area known for having a significant gold placer?
Collocations & Compounds
placer deposit
Noun collocation: a concentrated accumulation of heavy minerals in sediment
placer mining
Noun collocation: the process of extracting precious metals from alluvial deposits
rich placer
Noun collocation: a deposit containing a high concentration of precious metals
alluvial placer
Noun collocation: a deposit formed by the action of flowing water