Silver Resources and Reserves

In Mexico, ores are available containing pyragyrite and proustite, mined entirely for silver extraction, and Mexico derives 50% of its silver production from mines containing these so-called primary silver minerals The other half is, as in the rest of the world, a by-product of copper, zinc and lead production. 

An additional resource is industrially used silver that is recycled. Most important are scrapped photographic film and paper as well as used photographic baths. Reclamation of scrap from the electronics industry and catalysts from chemical industry contribute to modern silver manufacturing and dental scrap, silver amalgam, is also important. 

Global consumption of silver in the year 2000 was estimated to be 25 000 tonnes (with an average price of 5.00 per ounce). Mine production was 18 300 tonnes, which indicates that the recycling of used silver products was considerable. 

---