alluvial deposit

noun

Meaning

Sediment such as sand, silt, or gravel left behind by flowing water, typically in riverbeds, floodplains, or deltas.

Examples

  • The fertile soil in the Nile Valley is largely composed of an alluvial deposit.
  • Gold prospectors often search for precious metals within an alluvial deposit in mountain streams.

Synonyms: sediment, silt, alluvium, detritus