placer

¹

[ plas-er ]

noun

, Mining.

1. a surficial mineral deposit formed by the concentration of small particles of heavy minerals, as gold, rutile, or platinum, in gravel or small sands.
2. the site of a form of mining placer mining in which a placer deposit is washed to separate the gold or other valuable minerals.

placer

²

[ pley-ser ]

noun

1. a person who sets things in their place or arranges them.
2. a person or animal that is among the winners of a race or other contest.

placer

/ ˈplæsə /

noun

1. 1. surface sediment containing particles of gold or some other valuable mineral
   2. ( in combination )

      placer-mining

placer

/ plăs′ər /

1. 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.
2. ◆ The extraction of minerals from placers, as by panning, washing, or dredging, is called placer mining .

Word History and Origins

Origin of placer¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1835–45; from Latin American Spanish; Spanish: “sandbank,” from Catalan placel, derivative of plaza “open place”; plaza

Origin of placer²

First recorded in 1570–80; place + -er ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of placer¹

C19: from American Spanish: deposit, from Spanish plaza place

Example Sentences

Here’s the thing with California’s oranges: The California gold rush, smack in the middle of the 19th century, was an enormous splash in the placer pan.

From Los Angeles Times

Dorr, whose story earned newspaper coverage in subsequent years, claimed the sand there was “very rich in placer gold.”

From Los Angeles Times

The researchers determined that several countries, including the top two placers, are on track to achieve greenhouse gas neutrality by 2050.

From Washington Post

Bond, who has been working for the Yukon Geological Survey since 1997, is on his periodic rounds, visiting placer miners, looking at their operations and chatting about what they’re finding.

From Seattle Times

Come Sept. 9, go ahead and party like it’s 1850, and you’re a white man with a big, juicy placer mining claim!

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• double
• runner-up