Pure Silver White

History of Pure Silver White
Silver was discovered after gold and copper about 4000 BC, when it was used in jewelry and as a medium of exchange. The earliest known workings of significant size were those of the pre-Hittites of Cappadocia in eastern Anatolia. Silver is generally found in the combined state in nature, usually in copper or lead mineralization, and by 2000 BC mining and smelting of silver-bearing lead ores was under way. Lead ores were smelted to obtain an impure lead-silver alloy, which was then fire refined by cupellation. The best-known of the ancient mines were located at the Laurium silver-lead deposit in Greece; this was actively mined from 500 BC to AD 100. Spanish mines were also a major source.

By the 16th century, Spanish conquistadores had discovered and developed silver mines in Mexico, Bolivia, and Peru. These New World mines, much richer in silver, resulted in the rise of South and Central America as the largest silver-producing areas in the world. For the recovery of New World silver, the Patio process was employed. Silver-bearing ore was ground and then mixed with salt, roasted copper ore, and mercury. The mixing was accomplished by tethering mules to a central post on a paved patio (hence the name of the process) and compelling them to walk in a circle through the mixture. The silver was gradually converted to the elemental state in a very finely divided form, from which it was dissolved by the mercury. Periodically, the mercury was collected and distilled to recover the silver, and this was subsequently refined by cupellation. Cyanidation processes supplanted the Patio process in the late 19th century; by that time, the Moebius and Thum Balbach electrorefining processes had been introduced.

In the mid-19th century a large silver deposit was discovered in Nevada. This resulted in the United States becoming the world's largest silver producer until the 20th century, when it was surpassed by Mexico and South America (particularly Peru).

Silver is a brilliant white, lustrous metal that is extremely ductile and malleable. Together with gold, iridium, palladium and platinum, it is one of the so-called "precious metals." Usually found combined with copper or lead, silver has long been used in the manufacture of coins, ornaments and jewelry.

Ancient Silver's History
Silver ornaments and decorations found in royal tombs dating to about 6000 years ago, place its discovery soon after the discovery of gold and copper. Slag dumps in Asia Minor and on islands in the Aegean Sea indicate that after humans learned to separate silver from lead by about 2000 BC, it has been used regularly in jewelry and as a medium of exchange ever since.

The earliest known large-size mines were those of Cappadocia in eastern Anatolia. The best-known of the ancient mines were located at the Laurium silver-lead deposit in Greece and were actively mined from 500 BC to AD 100. Roman envy of the silver mines worked by the Carthaginians in Spain helped cause the Punic Wars.

By the 16th century, Spanish conquistadors had discovered and developed silver mines in Mexico, Bolivia and Peru. Much richer in silver, these New World mines resulted in the rise of South and Central America as the largest silver-producing areas in the world.

In 1859, an extremely large silver deposit the Comstock Lode was discovered near Virginia City, Nevada. It yielded over 225 million dollars in silver during its productive years and resulted in the United States becoming the world's largest silver producer until the 20th century, when it was surpassed by Mexico and Peru.

Medium of Exchange
Historically, silver has minted into coins, which led to its use as the standard for the monetary systems of ancient Greece and Rome. It is likely that both gold and silver were used as money by 800 BC in all countries between the Indus and the Nile. Silver continued to be the standard for most currencies until the 19th century, when most changed to a gold standard.

In late 19th-century America, the Free Silver Movement advocated unlimited coinage of silver, which became the symbol of economic justice for the mass of the American people. But in 1900 a Republican majority in Congress passed the Gold Standard Act, which made gold the sole standard for all currency thereafter.

Expanding industrial use of silver led to its depletion in the U.S., and in 1965 the U.S. Treasury reduced the silver content of a half-dollar and introduced silverless dimes and quarters. Finally, in 1967, when the demand for industrial silver use exceeded the total annual world production, the Treasury withdrew all silver coins from circulation.

Industrial Uses
Because silver does not react readily with organic acids and bases, it is used for lining vats, tanks and other containers in the chemical and food industries. Because of the metal's high electrical conductivity, it is used for making printed electrical circuits and as a coating for electronic conductors; it is often alloyed with such elements as nickel or palladium for use in electrical contacts. In the photography industry, silver compounded with bromine or chlorine forms light-sensitive coatings that register images on films.

.Silver acetate serves as an industrial oxidizing agent and laboratory reagent.
.Silver nitrate is used in silver plating, hair dyeing, and manufacturing ink, glass, and mirrors, and as a strong antiseptic.
.Silver oxide, a dark-brown powder, is used in medicines, in coloring glass, and in purifying drinking water.
.Silver iodide, a pale-yellow powder, is used chiefly in medicines, in photography, and in cloud seeding to produce rain artificially during drought conditions.

Decorative & Ornamental Uses
The use of silver for silverware, ornaments and jewelry remains significant into modern times. Alloys of silver with copper are harder, tougher and more fusible than pure silver and are used for jewelry and coinage. Sterling silver contains 92.5 percent of silver and 7.5 percent of copper. Jewelry silver is an alloy containing 80 percent silver and 20 percent copper or lead.

Physical Properties
Pure silver has a brilliant white metallic luster. It does not react with moist air or dry oxygen but is easily tarnished at room temperature by sulfur or hydrogen sulfide. Silver dissolves readily in nitric acid and in hot concentrated sulfuric acid. It is extremely malleable, ductile, and has the highest electrical and thermal conductivities of all metals.

Unlike gold, silver is present in many naturally occurring minerals. The most abundant include argentite and tetrahedrite. While silver is widely distributed in nature, the total amount is quite small when compared with other metals; the metal constitutes 0.05 parts per million of the Earth's crust.
Atomic number: 47
Atomic weight: 107.868
Melting point: 1234 degrees K
Boiling point: 2436 degrees K
Tensile strength: approx. 19,000 psi

Silver Uses
Although silver is relatively scarce, it is the most plentiful and least expensive of the precious metals. The largest silver producing countries are Mexico, Peru, the United States, Australia and Chile. Sources of silver include; silver mined directly, silver mined as a by-product of gold, copper, lead and zinc mining, and silver extracted from recycled materials, primarily used photographic materials. Today, silver bullion stocks make up a significant component of silver supply.
The demand for silver comes primarily from three areas; industrial uses, jewelry and silverware, and photography. These industries represent 95 percent of annual silver consumption. Silver’s superior properties make it a highly desirable industrial component in manufactured products. Silver’s artistic beauty and status make it one of the most romantic and sought after precious metals.

Diversity is silver’s primary asset. Its unique properties include beauty, strength, sensitivity to light, malleability and ductility, electrical and thermal conductivity, reflectivity and the ability to endure extreme temperature changes. These properties allow groundbreaking research to be conducted by scientists and engineers that effect the way we live.
Silver more than other precious metals, has significant demand rooted in sectors as diverse as imaging, electronics, jewelry, coinage, superconductivity and water purification. For this reason, silver is no longer known as just a precious metal, a store of value, a work of art or an industrial metal. It is all of these. Today silver is indispensable, working all around us to improve the quality of our lives.

The Precious Metal Silver in Bars and Rounds
Silver is known as a precious metal and much, much more. This metal of ancient civilizations and of modern technology has been used as a medium of exchange through the ages, and is an important investment metal with a variety of industrial uses.

Silver Bullion Bars and Coins Bullion is the form of silver traded for investment purposes. From silver metal, coins or rounds, bars, and ingots are struck or cast to form a physical product that is bought or sold on the basis of the silver content.

Silver Jewelry Sets
Turquoise Beauty-Gemstone Jewelry Set
Echoes-Tiger Eye Jewelry Set
Vintage Glory -Silver Neckalce
Lapiz Lazuli Silver Jewelry.

Silver Pendants
Silver Pendant Golden Topaz Zircon
Silver Pendant Blue Topaz
Silver Pendant Ruby Pearl
Silver Pendant Moonstone Emerald.

Silver Necklaces
Silver Chain Necklace
Enchanting Delights-Malachite Silver Necklace
Maiden Fairy- Silver Necklace
Silver Malachite Necklace.

Silver Earrings
Precious Glitters-Black Onyx Silver Earrings
Black Magic-Black Onyx Silver Earrings
Lapis Lazuli Silver Earrings
White Night -Moon Stone Silver Earrings.

Silver Bracelets
Silver Bracelet Golden Topaz
Silver Bracelet Moonstone
Silver Bracelet Moonstone
Silver Bracelet Blue Topaz Emerald.

Silver Wire for Making Jewelry
Silver is one of the most popular metals for wire artists and wire jewelry makers to work with. There are many reasons for this, the key ones being that it provides the jeweler with a combination of an affordable material that is malleable and has pleasing visual qualities. Silver is an excellent background to beads and gemstones, helping to show off the rich color of the materials used. Many beautiful items of jewelry are made using little more than silver wire and beads.

Silver is generally available in two grades – Sterling and Fine silver. Fine silver is 99.5% silver (literally pure silver) and as such is very soft and malleable. This is great for wire workers who need to bend and work the wire without fear of it cracking through becoming ‘work hardened’. One other benefit of fine silver is that, because of the high proportion of pure silver, it doesn’t tarnish – again making it ideal for intricate wire-work items that can be difficult to polish.

Sterling Silver is 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. The addition of the copper brings additional strength to the silver whilst still allowing the silver to retain much of it’s malleability. Sterling silver is the most common form of silver available, and is found in most findings where fine silver would be much too soft to use.

Wire artists or jewelers who work a lot with silver often opt to use fine silver for the main work, and combine this with sterling silver for the findings and other components where strength is required. The choice largely depends on the item being made and, of course, personal preference.

Cleaning Your Jewelry
Protect your precious gold and silver jewelry items using pure common sense and Jewelry Cleaner, Jewelry Cloth or Silver Cleaner. Use these products regularly and bask in the shimmer of your dazzling jewelry whenever you wear it!

Prevent scratching on jewelry by avoiding contact with hard surfaces.
Bathing will not harm gold jewelry, but ordinary soap and water will leave a film on its surface.
Use care when applying make-up, scents and hair products. Chemicals in these products can harm the finish of the jewelry item.
Jewelry Cleaner, Jewelry Cloth or Silver Cleaner is the perfect accompaniment to give with any gift of fine gold or silver jewelry.