Silver Formation
The formation of silver starts far in the the Universe. The internal processes in the stars are the beginning of this creation. High temperature and gravitation split rearrange atoms in the stars. As a result, all these processes make possible creation and spread of new elements around the Universe.
Constant developmental of the Universe brings into life new supernovas (powerful and luminous stellar explosion) as well as new neutron stars (collapsed core of a massive supergiant star).
Supernovas are the cradle of silver and a number of other elements. Meanwhile collision of neutron stars catalyses gold. The number of supernovas far more exceeds the number of neutron stars in the Universe. That is why there is much more silver than gold both on Earth and on other Planets. The geology of Earth is closely linked to the Universe. It is actually one single space.
Silver
Silver is a chemical element with the symbol Ag. It comes from the Latin argentum, derived from “shiny” or “white”.
Deposits of various metals alongside with silver one can find on volcanic belts from Pacific Oceans to the Mediterranean Sea. Silver was one of the seven metals of antiquity that prehistoric humans knew. Silver has had an enduring role in most human cultures.
Formation of Silver. History.
Did you know that silver was more expensive than gold in Egypt until around the fifteenth century BC? The Egyptians separated gold from silver by heating the metals with salt, and then reducing the silver chloride produced to the metal. The situation changed with the discovery of cupellation, a technique that allowed silver metal to be extracted from its ores.
Artefacts indicate that people could separate silver from lead as early as the 4th millennium BC. One of the earliest silver extraction centres in Europe was Sardinia. The origins of silver production in India, China, and Japan were almost certainly equally ancient.
Did you know that when the Phoenicians first came to what is now Spain, they got so much silver that they were not able to put it all on their ships. As a result they used silver to weight their anchors instead of lead. By the time of the Greek and Roman civilizations, silver coins were the core of the economy. Central Europe became the centre of silver production during the Middle Ages. Central and South Spanish conquistadors stole lots of silver and transferred it to newly discovered America. After this America became the dominant producers of silver.
Mythology and Folklore
Silver plays a certain role in mythology and has found various usage as a metaphor and in folklore. In folklore, silver commonly had mystic powers. For example, a silver bullet combat a werewolf, witch, or a vampire. From here comes famous idiom ‘silver bullet’.
Silver Coins and Bullion
Ancient world used silver next to gold as the first primitive forms of money compared to simple exchange of goods. For a very long time humanity valued silver as a precious metal. Silver metal is used in many bullion coins. The earliest known silver coins were minted in the kingdom of Lydia in Asia Minor around 600 BC.
Silver prices are normally quoted in troy ounces. One troy ounce is equal to 31.1034768 grams. The London silver fix is published every working day at noon London time. Several major international banks determine the price.
Usage
The major use of silver besides coinage throughout most of history was in the manufacture of jewellery and other general-use items, and this continues to be a major use today. For example table silver for cutlery.
Other than in currency and as an investment medium (coins, jewellery and bullion), people use silver in solar panels, water filtration, ornaments, high-value tableware and utensils, in electrical contacts and conductors, window coatings, in catalysis of chemical reactions, as a colorant in stained glass, and in specialized confectionery.
Now it is a fact that silver has antibiotic properties. You would ask why. It is due to the fact that silver ion is bioactive and it can kill bacteria. Microbes cannot develop resistance to silver as they can to antibiotics. That is why healthcare and beauty specialists use silver and silver nanoparticles as an antimicrobial in a variety of healthcare and beauty products. Currently nurses value silver dressings for all kind of wounds difficult to heal.
What an amazing metal. Cannot but admire how noble and multifunctional it is. Don’t forget that we have beautiful collections of silver jewellery. Pop up into our online shop to have a look at them and share your opinion with us.