Crossword Genius

Tides ebb about workers finding alluvial deposit (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sediment

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'alluvial deposit' is the definition.
'sediment' can be an answer for 'deposit' (synonyms). I'm unsure of the 'alluvial' bit.

'tides ebb about workers' is the wordplay.
'ebb' says the letters should be written backwards (I've seen 'ebbing' mean this (to ebb can mean to go backwards)).
'about' is an insertion indicator.
'workers' becomes 'men' (men can mean staff or employees).
'tides' in reverse letter order is 'sedit'.
'sedit' going around 'men' is 'SEDIMENT'.

'finding' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for sediment that I've seen before include "Lees" , "Dregs; deposit" , "I'm nested in mud" , "Matter settling out in fluids" , "Particles that settle on the bottom of river or wine" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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