Final answer:
Placer mining involves removing the top layer of earth to extract minerals. Tools like pans, sluice boxes, and dredges are used for this method.
Step-by-step explanation:
Placer mining involves removing the top layer of earth to extract minerals. This method is commonly used to recover precious metals, such as gold, that have been eroded from their original source and deposited in streambeds or riverbeds. Miners use tools like pans, sluice boxes, and dredges to separate the heavier mineral particles from the lighter sediment.