What is another word for placer mining?
Pronunciation: [plˈe͡ɪsə mˈa͡ɪnɪŋ] (IPA) 
Placer mining, also known as alluvial mining, is the extraction of precious minerals such as gold and silver from surface or shallow deposits of sediments using a variety of methods. Synonyms for placer mining include surface mining, river mining, creek mining, stream mining, and shallow mining. These methods involve panning, dredging, sluicing, and hydraulic mining to separate the valuable minerals from the surrounding materials. Placer mining takes advantage of the natural power of water to transport heavier minerals, making it an effective way to extract precious metals from rivers, streams, and shallow pools. Despite its relatively low-tech and labor-intensive methods, placer mining remains an important source of precious mineral extraction around the world.
