How is silver mined? Do you keep having a question like that?
Whether you’ve been thinking about investing in silver. Or you’re interested in materials science. It’s useful to know the silver mining process.
Silver is indispensable as far as industrial materials go. Mining it isn’t quite as indispensable as moving it around, but it has its own challenges.
Are you interested in learning about the silver mining process? Then you’ve found the right post. Here’s an overview of how is silver mined.
What Is Silver?
Before knowing the process of mining. Let’s first identify what is silver?
Silver is a chemical resource that you can find in the periodic table. It is a type of metal that is reflective, thermally conductive, and conducts electricity.
You might have encountered silver in your utensils and tableware. It is used in jewelry and mirror making. Silver is also used in making crates to use as storage for imports and for pets or animals.
A silver crate is durable and anything you will put in it will be safe and secure. That fine sliver you see here, that’s a silver crate.
How Is Silver Mined?
There are a variety of methods in silver mining. The most common is through a process called open-pit mining.
Other methods include underground mining and surface mining. All methods mentioned need professionals and experts for safe and successful mining. So it will be better to hire the best mining companies.
Surface Mining
When the ores are 400 feet or deeper, we use Surface mining. It involves removing the top layers of soil and rock to access the silver ore underneath.
This method of mining silver is found in countries like Mexico and Peru.
Underground Mining
Underground mining, is when the silver’s location is deep below the ground. Tunnels are dug to reach deposits of silver ore. Through shafts or tunnels, they remove the required mineral deposits.
Miners use machines to dig up the silver ore. The ore is then brought to a surface processing plant for further processing.
This method is popular in countries like Chile and Bolivia.
Open-Pit Mining
Open-pit mining is the most common method. Used throughout the world for mineral mining. It does not need extractive methods or tunnels.
It is a surface mining technique that draws out minerals from an open pit in the ground. It is then processed to remove impurities. They will concentrate on it before shipping it off to refineries for further processing.
To mine silver-rich deposits that are close to the surface, we use Open-pit mining. It involves using heavy machinery to mine deposits near the earth’s surface.
Successful Silver Mining
How is silver mined is an interesting topic and not an easy task. It is also a dangerous job even for experts. But, knowing how to mine silver is very useful if you’re interested in this kind of profession.
With this silver mining guide, you can familiarize yourself with silver mining. Learn its process and master it!
Want to know more about mining? Check out our blog and enjoy!