Placer claim
Black's Law Dictionary · Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
Black's Law Dictionary
A mining claim located on the public domain for the purpose of placer mining, that is, ground within the defined boundaries which contains mineral in its earth, sand, or g;ravel; ground which includes valuable deposits not "in place," that is, not fixed in rock, or which are in a loose state.
U. S. v. Iron Silver Min. Co.., 128 U. S. 673 , 9 Sup. Ct. 195, 32 L. Ed. 57l; Clipper Min. Co., v. Eli Min. Co., 194 U. S 220 , & Sup. Ct. 632, 48 L. Eli. 944; Wheeler v. Smith, 5 Wash. 704, 32 Pac. 784.