Facts
Peru is the Number One Silver Producer in the World (123.9 million ounces) followed by Mexico (104.7 million), China (89.1 million). The United States was 8th with 39.8 million ounces [and Canada was 11th with 19.6 million ounces].- Most Silver is produced as a By-product of the gold, copper, lead and zinc refining process.
- The Comstock Lode Was the Greatest Single Discovery of Silver in U.S. History when, back in 1859, over 17,000 people rushed to the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains to get a chance at improving their fortune by cashing in on the silver rush
- Silver Isn't Stockpiled in the National Reserves of Countries the way that gold is.
- 95% of Silver Consumption Can Be Attributed to Industrial Use such as the production of jewelry, silverware, photography and batteries.
- The Melting Point of Silver is 961.78 Degrees Celsius or 1763.2 Degrees Fahrenheit
- Silver Has the Highest Electrical Conductivity of Any Element and, as such, is widely used in such applications as electrical circuits and contacts and batteries.
- Silver Is the Best Conductor of Heat of All the Elements and, as such, is used widely in solar panel, rear window defoggers and many other operations where heat transference is important.
- Silver Serves an Important Role in Water Purification because it prevents bacterial growth.
- Silver Will tarnish when it is exposed to air or water that contains ozone or hydrogen sulphide.
- Sterling Silver is composed of 92.5% Silver and 7.5% Copper and is used in the manufacturing of high quality cutlery.
- Pre-1965 U.S. Dimes, Quarters and Half Dollars Contained a Large Amount of Silver with 1 dollars' worth of such [being worth approximately $21 U.S. at today's silver prices].
- The 1895 Morgan silver dollar has sold for $120,000 (U.S.). According to the U.S. Mint only 12,000 coins were produced for general circulation and another 800 Proof coins were minted. Only 75 or so coins (all proof) have ever come to public view.
- Silver is More Malleable than Any Other Element except Gold and, for example, can be made into a sheet that is 150 times thinner than a sheet of notebook paper.
- Silver is More Ductile than Any Other Element except Gold with one gram of silver being coiled up into 8,000 feet of thin wire.