Sterling Silver Jewelry-The Rest Of The Story
Silver is widely diffused but is rarely found in the native
state.
Silver is originally as widespread as gold, occurring in nearly
all of the volcanic rocks. Whereas gold remains unaltered by the
action of the elements and is often carried long distances from
its original place of occurrence, silver on the contrary is only
to be found in the rocks where it originally occurs. When these
rocks are broken down or worn away, the silver is either driven
into new mineral combinations, or more often dissipated and
lost. Silver, therefore, is only to be obtained by subterranean
mining. Shafts are driven and the ore brought to the surface,
and by use of various processes the silver is extracted, refined
and made ready for commercial purposes.
An old process and one still employed extensively throughout
Mexico where a large quantity of silver is produced, is to take
the ore after it has been crushed or reduced to a fine mud or
puddle and spread it about two feet deep over the floor of a
large courtyard. Powered sulfate of copper is spread over the
mass and then horses or mules are driven around in circle to
tread the sulfate in and mix it thoroughly with the ore. After
about one day