Silver

:This page is about silver the element. For the color, see silver (color).

Occurrence

Silver is found in native form, combined with sulfur, arsenic, antimony, or chlorine and in various ores such as argentite (Ag2S) and horn silver (AgCl).

Related Topics:
Sulfur - Arsenic - Antimony - Chlorine - Argentite - Horn silver

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The principal sources of silver are copper, copper-nickel, gold, lead and lead-zinc ores obtained from Canada, Mexico, Peru, Australia and the United States.

Related Topics:
Copper - Nickel - Gold - Lead - Zinc - Canada - Mexico - Peru - Australia - United States

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This metal is also produced during the electrolytic refining of copper. Commercial grade fine silver is at least 99.9% pure silver and purities greater than 99.999% are available. Mexico is the largest silver producer. According to the Secretary of Economics of Mexico, it produced 80,120,000 troy ounces (2492 metric tons) in 2000, about 15% of the annual production of the world.

Related Topics:
Electrolytic - Mexico - Troy - Ounce - Metric ton

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Because the lion's share of the world's silver deposits happen to be concentrated in the Americas, silver was far more valuable before the Age of Discovery; on average, about one-sixth or one-seventh the cost of gold. Now, however, silver is relatively cheap compared to other precious metals, and a mass of silver is now worth only about 1/60 the same mass of gold. In turn, copper is about 1/70 as valuable as silver.

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