yacimento

Yacimento is a term found in some Spanish-language texts referring to a site where resources, fossils, or artifacts are found. In standard Spanish the preferred spelling is yacimiento; yacimento is generally considered a misspelling or a variant used in informal writing or certain dialects.

Definition and usage: In geology and mining, un yacimiento is a geological formation that contains a concentration of minerals or hydrocarbons that makes extraction feasible. It can refer to ore bodies, oil and natural gas fields, coal seams, or groundwater reservoirs. In archaeology and paleontology, a yacimiento refers to a site where artifacts, fossils, or other remains are preserved and can be studied.

Etymology and scope: The term derives from the Spanish verb yacer, to lie down, with the suffix -miento, conveying the sense of a place where something lies. The most common specialized use is yacimiento arqueológico for an archaeological site. In professional writing, the spelling yacimiento is standard; yacimento appears mainly as a nonstandard or historical variant. In English-language texts the equivalents are deposit, site, or field, depending on the discipline.

See also: Yacimiento arqueológico, depósito, campo petrolero.