Placer mining - Wikipedia
Placer mining / ˈ p l æ s ər / is the mining of stream bed deposits for minerals.This may be done by open-pit (also called open-cast mining) or by various surface excavating equipment or tunneling equipment.. Placer mining is frequently used for precious metal deposits (particularly gold) and gemstones, both of which are often found in alluvial deposits—deposits of sand and …