Preface
This
month, we are scoping out a native mineral favorite: Silver.
Many of us are familiar with the everyday uses of this precious metal, such as jewelry,
silverware, and coinage. There are few lesser known, yet important ways that silver
is
woven into our lives, sometimes without us even knowing it.
We shall explore some of these novel silver incarnations, in addition to some science,
and a lot of pictures. Let's go!
Introduction
Welcome to
another Mineral-of-the-Month
installment!
This month, we
are featuring Native Silver. This noble metal is a favorite of pure element
collectors and conneseurs. Many of us may have admired or even own some obvious
silver
items, such as, rings, flatware, and old money. But, how many of us use silver
differently?
We will explore one of these mysterious
uses, along with some chemistry, and perhaps
a mining story, if there's time. Enjoy!
Silver is one of the world's most well-known
metals. It's ore and its native state as element
speaks to purity in nature's chemical simplicity. Though silver oxides to black when
exposed
to air, even the novice could guess it's identity, if asked by an experienced rockhound,
teacher,
or scientist.
From the Latin "argentum", we get
the familiar Periodic Table symbol "Ag". From the
Anglo-Saxon "seolfor" we derive today's pronunciation of "silver".
Compounded, it may be used in specialty
batteries (Silver, Zinc, Cadmium), and as Silver
Iodide (AgI) as a catalyst for rain in clouding seeding. Silver nitrate (AgNO3) is
the active
silver employed in photographic paper and films. (Jefferson Lab)
Known for about five milennia in nature from
Argentite (Ag2S) and "horn silver" (AgCl), it
occurs with metal sulfides and ores of gold, copper, and lead.
To grow your own silver crystals in your
home lab, you need three ingredients: copper wire,
silver nitrate, and mercury. (As these chemicals are known poisons, I would suggest
this
experiment for the experienced adult hobbyist, who uses all of the appropriate safety
tools,
and procedures.)
If you want to see a virtual process, go to How To Grow
Silver Crystals.
We will concentrate on the simple chemistry
of silver's embodiement in a product called
Precious Metal Clay (PMC). Also, our photos will show us raw specimens from the
field of
native silver and silver ores.
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Silver,
Dzezkasghan, Kazakhastan
Photo by and Courstesy of Isaias Casanova |
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Silver,
White Pine Mine, White Pine, Michigan
Photo by and Courstesy of Isaias Casanova |
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Copper
with Silver,
White Pine Mine, Ontonagon County, Michigan
Photo by and Courstesy of Isaias Casanova |
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Copper
on Silver,
Upper Peninsula, Michigan
Photo by and Courstesy of Isaias Casanova |
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Silver,
Elongated arborescent form
Photo by and Courtesy of Stan Celestian |
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Native
Wire Silver, Mexico
Photo by and Courtesy of Stan Celestian |
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Native
Silver Wire Form
Photo by and Courtesy of Stan Celestian |
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Silver
Ore
Courtesy of wikipedia.org |
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Silver
Nugget
Courtesy of wikipedia.org |
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The main use for Silver
is coinage, followed by jewelry and silverware in the experience
of the average person. Industrial uses include high-capacity batteries and silver
emulsion
photo chemicals, as manufactured by Kodak.
Our focus here will be
the reclaimed product Precious Metal Clay (PMC). It is colloidal
silver particles recovered from the recycle of photograph films, chemicals, and products.
This relatively new concept towards reusing silver was developed by Japanese scientists at
the Mitsubishi Materials Special Products Division in the 1990s. (Society of
American Silversmiths)
Today, the jeweler or
craftsperson can model pieces similar to those they had to formerly
cast using the lost wax method. Fine detail can be captured, rendering one with a
fine work,
suitable for sale or enjoyment. Yes, when completed, your project will be solid fine
silver!
How does it work?
Well, let's start with the basics. PMC is made from fine silver particles,
water, and an organic binder. When fired either with a torch, or in a kiln, the
water and binder
burn off, leaving us with solid silver. They clay volume does shrink a bit, due to
the release of
the other ingredients, so one must size their work accordingly. (There are
guidelines for working
this fantastic formulation, so I will add some links for you below.)
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I have not yet made opportunity to use this product. Numerous
television and craft shows have featured projects utilizing this novel
clay. Among them are: Jewelry
Making with Jackie Guerra on the
DIY Network. I have made jewelry from it's sister
product Polymer Art Clay with good results. My projects include faux lapidary
stones, such as agates, lapis, and turquoise. Some observe that working with clay
can be therapeutic, both for the hand muscles and the psyche. To kids, it is mostly
about having fun. (The firing step of PMC should not be performed by children, as it
is a safety hazard. This step should be performed by a responsible adult or
craftsperson.) |
Good crafting and crystal growing to you. May your own labs and work benches be
filled
with the safely-produced works or your hands, tools, and imaginations!
Links
The
PMC Guild
Silver-Clay.com
Society
of American Silversmiths: Precious Metal Clay
Metal Clay: Sandia PMC Guild
About.com Metal Clay
Jewelry
PMC Supply.com
Silver Mineral Data
Mining Silver in Colorado
Mining Stories
I'll just touch upon the
story of a 15-year man, named Sam Sherwin. He went out west
in 1885 frontier times to seek his fortune in silver. I won't spoil the tale for
you. So, just
go to Mining Silver in
Colorado to read more.
Other rip-roarin' tales
abound, at least for the history of 19th century United States. I'm
sure that many miners, collectors, and prospectors around the world have their own unique
experiences. Those are stories for another article.
World Museum
of Mining and Hell Roarin' Gulch
MiningUSA.com
Members' Gallery
Here is where DMS Members can add their Silver
photos to share with us.
Until Next Time
We hope you have enjoyed our all too short visit to Native
Silver. Please join us next month,
for another article, and we shall journey together!
Until then, stay safe, and happy collecting. 
Article Contributors
I would like to gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions of our fellow Silver
enthusiasts,
collectors, authors, curators, professionals, and club members who made this
work possible. Thanks.
© 2006 All contributions to this
article are covered under the copyright protection of this article
and by separate and several copyright protection(s), and are to be used for the sole
purposes of
enjoying this scholarly article. They are used gratefully with express written
permission of the
authors, save for generally-accepted scholarly quotes, short in nature, deemed legal to
reference
with the appropriate citation and credit. Reproduction of this article must
be obtained by express
written permission of the author, Kenneth B. Casey, for his contributions, authoring,
photos, and
graphics. Use of all other credited materials requires permission of each
contributor separately .
Links and general contact information are included in the credits above,
and throughout this article.
The advice offered herein are only suggestions; it is the reader's charge to use the
information
contained herein responsibly. DMS is not responsible for misuse or
accidents caused from this
article. All opinions, theories, proofs, and views expressed within this article, and in
others on this
website, do not necessarily reflect the views of the Delaware Mineralogical Society.
Suggested Reading
Mountains
of Silver: The Story of Colorado's Red Mountain Mining District by P. David Smith
Silver and Gold Mining Camps of the Old West: A State by State
American Encyclopedia
by Sandy Nestor
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About
the Author: Ken is current webmaster of the Delaware
Mineralogical Society. He has a diploma in
Jewelry Repair, Fabrication & Stonesetting from the Bowman Technical School,
Lancaster, PA, and worked as jeweler. He has
also studied geology at the University of Delaware. And,
he is currently a member of the Delaware Mineralogical Society and the Franklin-Ogdensburg
Mineralogical Society. E-mail: kencasey98@yahoo.com.
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