talutatium

A New Latin Dictionary by Charlton T. Lewis Ph.D. and Charles Short, LL. D.

talutatium, ii, n.; mining t. t.,

the superficial indication of the presence of gold under the earth : cum ita inventum est in summo caespite, talutatium vocant, si et aurosa tellus subest, Plin. 33, 4, 21, § 67 (Sillig, talutium).