Silver – A close purview

Silver is not as abundant as aluminum or iron found in the earth’s crust. The argentite ore is found in different parts of the world but not as common as the bauxite or the feldspar. The impurities that differentiate the quality of different kinds of ore of silver are a major constraint. Secondarily, the manufacturing methods that involve the extraction of silver from its ore, decides the quality of silver obtained. International market for silver ornamenents, silver table wear, silver jewelry, and many other products and commodities that are made out of silver, are quite sharp.

The demand is always there for this precious commodity because of its natural physical properties. The pure metal is a good Conductor of electricity as well as fire and it is a great attribute to be employed in a variety of applications. Frictional losses and other types of leakages are minimal or negligible while employing silver in the electrical applications in precious machine building. Whole heap of weapon in the artillery would employ the utility of silver metal in the purest form for variety of reasons. Hence, the smelter plants target these industries as their prime targets rather than those who are relying on silver for commercial applications.

Moreover, the quality of silver needed by these secondary consumers need not be as pure as it is obtained from the smelter plants. The purest form is of no good to them, as they would have to again mix up some more impurities to make them ductile to be suitable for applications. On the other hand, when you consider the case of sterling silver, it cannot stand anywhere close to the silver metal. As an alloy of silver with many kinds of impurities contained in its composition, the sterling silver is something, which is specially made or found for the commercial purposes. The percentage of the silver metal present in this alloy of silver is just about 92.5%.

Hence, the price of the sterling silver jewelry is not as higher as that of the equivalent silver coins or bars. One cannot make jewelry out of that pure fine silver. Only coins or metallic bars could be made which are rarely used in commercial applications. Pure silver could be used as filling agents in the field of dentistry. Silver necklace, silver bracelet that are seen in the market are all just the sterling silver jewelry with varying proportions of impurities.