geology of silver properties mining and formation of
Dec 11, 2021 Silver mining is thought to have actually begun in India, China, and Japan. Ancient Phoenicians obtained boatloads of silver from modern day Spain around 1200 to 800 BCE. During the 7th century BCE, the ancient Greeks extracted their silver from galena, a natural form of lead sulfide. Silver is a common catalyst for many manufacturing processes, often producing items that you use every day. Because of its unique chemical properties, silver is a vital catalyst in the production of two major industrial chemicals ethylene oxide and formaldehyde.