Most of the minerals in nature occur in combination of different chemicals as compounds. But, there are around 20 minerals which do not combine with other groups and occur in native form. Silver is one of them, occuring in small quantities, in pure form.
Silver (Ag), was one of the seven metals of antiquity (gold, silver, copper, tin, lead, iron, and mercury) that were known to humans, until the discovery of Arsenic in the 13th century.
Like gold, it is typically found around hydrothermal veins, and is commonly associated with Galena, Zinc and Copper.
Silver also occurs in small quantities in other common forms like- Oxides and chalcogenides, Halides, Inorganic compounds, Coordination compounds, Organometallic and Intermetallic.
| Crystal system | Isometric |
| Crystal habitat | Wiry, branching massive or grains, or, rarely cubic crystals. |
| Color | Silver-white but tarnishing quickly to black. |
| Luster | Metallic |
| Streak | Silver white |
| Hardness | 2.5-3 |
| Spec gravity | 10.3 gm/cu cm |
| Notable locations | Kongsberg, Norway, Sankt Andreasberg (Harz mts),Freiburg (saxony), Germany, Jachymov, czech Republic, chihuahua, Mexico, Great Bear Lake, Northwest Territories, Cobalt, Ontario, Michigan, Creede, Colorado. |
