Silver
Description
Silver is a soft, white metal that usually occurs in nature in one of four forms:
1) as a native element;
2) as a primary constituent in silver minerals;
3) as a natural alloy with other metals; and,
4) as a trace to minor constituent in the ores of other metals.
Most of the silver produced today is a product of the fourth type of occurrence.
Silver is known as a “precious metal” because it is rare and because it has a high economic value. It is valuable because it has a number of physical properties that make it the best possible metal for many different uses.