Consists of heavy minerals such as black sand, ironstone, etc., and may contain gemstones, gold, platinum, and other metallic minerals. Crevice A crack or split in the bedrock in which placer gold may accumulate. Work Describes non-paying labour such as stripping barren overburden, or preparing the ground or the mining works. A natural accumulation of mineral-bearing sand and gravel, or mineralized rock, in the case of a hardrock deposit. Dike A narrow section of rock, usually igneous, which has intruded into the country rock.
Dikes crossing a river make excellent gold traps.
The cable upon which a bucket-dredge moves to excavate gravel. A machine used to excavate gravel. A horizontal undercut or tunnel to follow a paystreak along bedrock under the overburden. E lectrum A relatively rare, natural alloy of gold and silver. Eluvial Deposit A deposit of gold and other lode materials that has been borne away from the original lode, but which have not yet reached running water.