Silver

Origin of the name: The name is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name, 'siolfur'. 

Discovery date: Approx 3000BC 

Image: The symbol is based on the widely used alchemical symbol for silver. In the background is a detail from the ‘Gundestrup Cauldron’, the largest known example of European Iron Age silver work.

Appearance: Silver is a relatively soft, shiny metal. It tarnishes slowly in air as sulfur compounds react with the surface forming black silver sulfide.

Uses: Sterling silver contains 92.5% silver. The rest is copper or some other metal. It is used for jewelry and silver tableware, where appearance is important.

Natural abundance: Silver occurs uncombined, and in ores such as argentite and chlorargyrite (horn silver). However, it is mostly extracted from lead-zinc, copper, gold and copper-nickel ores as a by-product of mining for these metals. The metal is recovered either from the ore, or during the electrolytic refining of copper. World production is about 20,000 tons per year.

History: Slag heaps near ancient mine workings in Turkey and Greece prove that silver mining started around 3000 BC. The metal was refined by cupellation, a process invented by the Chaldeans, who lived in what is now southern Iraq. It consisted of heating the molten metal in a shallow cup over which blew a strong draft of air. This oxidised the other metals, such as lead and copper, leaving only silver unaffected.

The rise of Athens was made possible partly through the exploitation of local silver mines at Laurium. These operated from 600 BC and right through the Roman era. In Medieval times, German mines became the main source of silver in Europe.
Silver was also mined by the ancient civilizations of Central and South America there being rich deposits in Peru, Bolivia and Mexico.
Top 3 producers:
  • 1) Mexico
  • 2) Peru
  • 3) China

Top 3 reserve holders:

  • 1) Peru
  • 2) Poland
  • 3)China