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placers
2 dictionary results for: placers
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
plac·er     (plās'ər)  Pronunciation Key 
n.  
  1. A glacial or alluvial deposit of sand or gravel containing eroded particles of valuable minerals.
  2. A place where a placer deposit is washed to extract its mineral content.

[Spanish, shoal, placer, from Catalan placer, shoal, from plassa, place, from Medieval Latin placea; see place.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
placer   (plās'ər)  Pronunciation Key 
A surface deposit of minerals, such as gold or magnetite, laid down by a river. The minerals are usually concentrated in one area because they are relatively heavy and therefore settle out of the river's currents more quickly than lighter sediments such as silt and sand. ◇ The extraction of minerals from placers, as by panning, washing, or dredging, is called placer mining.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
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