eolian placer

Eolian placers are a type of placer deposit formed in arid regions where wind, rather than water, acts as the concentrating agent. The wind removes lighter particles, leaving behind concentrations of heavier, valuable minerals. These deposits are a result of natural processes involving weathering and gravity, which free heavy, stable minerals from their original rock matrix. These minerals, such as gold, are then transported and concentrated by wind action. Examples of eolian placers include gold deposits found in parts of the Australian desert.1

Placer deposits, in general, are natural concentrations of heavy minerals caused by gravity acting on moving particles. Minerals suitable for forming placers are dense, chemically resistant to weathering, and durable. Common examples include gold, platinum, cassiterite, magnetite, chromite, ilmenite, rutile, zircon, and monazite.1