(Anglo-Saxon, Seolfor siolfur; L. argentum) Silver has been known since ancient times.It is mentioned in Genesis. Slag dumps in Asia Minor and on islands in the Aegean Seaindicate that man learned to separate silver from lead as earl as 3000 B.C.

Silver occurs native and in ores such as argentite (Ag2S) and horn silver (AgCl); lead,lead-zinc, copper, gold, and copper-nickel ores are principal sources. Mexico, Canada,Peru, and the U.S. are the principal silver producers in the western hemisphere.