ore vein
Underground metal deposit
An ore vein is a narrow, elongated deposit of mineral-bearing rock within surrounding stone, formed when mineral-rich fluids filled cracks in the earth's crust and crystallized.
Miners seek out ore veins as concentrated sources of valuable metals like gold, silver, or copper: They struck a rich ore vein deep in the mountain.
- lodeMineral-rich rock seam
- mother lodePrincipal ore deposit
- seamJoined fabric edge
- depositPlace for safekeeping
- mineOre excavation site
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