Alluvium Collection

Gold with black sands in a gold pan
Gold (Au) is an elemental metal. It occurs mainly as nuggets in rocks or as seen here, as grains in alluvial deposits

Geological map of the European Alps, lithograph, published in 1897
Geological map of the European Alps. Lithograph, published in 1897

Gold nugget found in a dry river bed outside Potchefstroom, Wits. 120 km southwest of Johannesburg, October 1882. Approximately 68x48mm and 156g in weight

Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, near Tulcea, Romania
alluvial land, alluvium, architectural style, architectural styles, balkan, balkan peninsula, biosphere, biosphere reserve, biosphere reserves, biotope, biotopes, body of water, boggy, building

Diked marshland on the East Frisian coast, dikes, North Sea, c. 1880, Germany, Historic
1900s, 19th-century, accurate, alluvial land, alluvium, archive, atlantic, atlantic oceans, black, black-and-white, black-white, coast, coasts, contemporary, copy, countryside, depiction, depictions

Gold Mining in Australia
Illustration from 19th century

Geological section of the artesian well of Grenelle, Paris, France (coloured engraving)
5233401 Geological section of the artesian well of Grenelle, Paris, France (coloured engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Gold Mining in Australia
Illustration from 19th century

Platinum (Pt) is an elemental and a very precious metal. The most common source of platinum is from alluvial deposits. Specimen from nirjni, Tagilsk, Urals, Russia

Gold specimens
A variety of gold specimens held at the Natural History Museum, London. Gold is an elemental metal. It occurs mainly as nuggets in rocks and alluvial deposits

Diverse gold nuggets
A diverse collection of gold nuggets from river gravels near Antioqua, Colombia. Deep yellow gold is practically pure whilst the white gold is electrum, an alloy containing significant silver

The Wicklow gold nugget
The Wicklow Nugget was found in the Ballin valley stream, Co. Wicklow, Ireland in 1795. The nugget became the property of George III and weighed 682g

Organic farming. Field of crops cultivated using organic farming methods. These plants are being grown on the fertile alluvium of the flood plain of the Wye Valley, Gloucestershire, England

Gold in placer. Placer mining is a type of open cast mining in which minerals are extracted from alluvial, rather than from subterranean, deposits

Alluvial fan, Adventdalen, Spitsbergen, Norway, Scandinavia, Europe

For sale as Licensed Images

Choose your image, Select your licence and Download the media

"Alluvium: The Golden Sands of Earth's History" In the shimmering light, gold dances with black sands in a humble gold pan, revealing the captivating allure of alluvium. This geological treasure has left its mark throughout time and across continents. A lithograph from 1897 unveils a mesmerizing geological map showcasing the European Alps. It depicts the intricate layers of alluvial deposits that have shaped this majestic mountain range over centuries. Among these formations lies precious gold, hidden within nature's artistic masterpiece. Venturing to Romania's Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve near Tulcea, one can witness the harmonious coexistence between water and land. Here, alluvial plains emerge as diked marshlands embrace the mighty force of the North Sea. A digitally restored reproduction from 1880 transports us back to an era where man battled against nature to tame these lands for their own prosperity. Traveling further west to Paris, France, we encounter a colored engraving depicting the geological section of Grenelle's artesian well. Alluvium plays a pivotal role here as it holds vast reserves of water beneath our feet – sustaining life and quenching thirst in this bustling city. But it is Australia that truly showcases alluvium's golden legacy on an epic scale. Gold mining has become synonymous with this vast continent; its rivers flowing with wealth extracted from ancient riverbeds laden with sediments carried by time itself. Yet amidst this golden symphony emerges another precious metal – platinum. Its rarity rivals even that of gold as it gleams alongside its counterpart in Australian mines and beyond. Alluvium tells tales written in sand grains carried by rivers through eons past - stories etched into landscapes worldwide. From Europe’s alpine majesty to Australia’s glittering treasures, it leaves no corner untouched by its transformative touch.