Silver (Chemical symbol AG) is a brilliant grey-white metal that is quite soft and malleable. It is quite resistant to corrosion and does not oxidize easily, although it readily forms a surface tarnish of silver sulphide. Of all the metal, It is the best conductor of electricity. Due to these qualities (and its relative scarcity), it is often classified along with gold and platinum as a precious metal.

Silver's primary use is in photographic paper and film. 28% (commercial photography, medical, dental and industrial X-rays and graphic arts), jewellery and electronics 25% (connectors contacts and batteries). The main source of silver is in lead ore, although it can also be found associated with copper, zinc and gold and produced as a by-product of base metal mining activities. Mexico, Peru and the USA are major producers of silver.

The main silver minerals are tetrahedrite (Cu,Fe,Zn,Ag12Sb4S13), freibergite (tetrahedrite with up to 30% silver), pyragyrite (Ag3Sb3), argentite (Ag2S), prousite (Ag3AsS3) and ceragyrite (AgCl). Silver associated with gold ores occurs mainly "electrum" a gold silver alloy.

Excerpt from GFMS Limited and The Silver Institute http://www.silverinstitute.org/