silver mine
A mine extracting natural silver-bearing deposits, often together with ores of other metals.
A silver mine is a site for the extraction of natural deposits of silver from the earth. Silver is a lustrous light gray precious metal and a chemical element with atomic number 47. It is used for jewelry, tableware, coins, and in electrical conductors. Because of its high value it is also an investment-grade commodity.
Common silver ores include argentite, chlorargyrite, and pyrargyrite. It is usually mined in combination with other metals, such as copper, nickel, lead, and zinc.
Silver need not be the only metal recovered. Extraction together with copper, nickel, lead, or zinc is expressly included, while a site merely handling finished silver products has no mining use on that basis.
Related definitions
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bauxite mine
A site where naturally occurring bauxite is extracted from the earth, mainly for aluminum production. -
chromium mine
A mine extracting natural chromium ore deposits, primarily the chromium-bearing mineral chromite. -
coal mine
A site where coal is systematically extracted from the earth through tunnels, open excavation, or blasting. -
copper mine
A mine extracting natural copper ore deposits, commonly containing copper-bearing minerals such as chalcopyrite. -
gold mine
A mine extracting natural gold deposits from the earth, including both open-pit and underground workings. -
iron mine
A mine extracting natural iron-bearing deposits, including ores such as magnetite and hematite. -
lead mine
A mine extracting natural lead-bearing deposits, either alone or together with metals such as zinc and silver. -
manganese mine
A mine extracting natural manganese ore deposits, commonly containing the mineral pyrolusite. -
nickel mine
A mine extracting natural nickel-bearing deposits, including laterite deposits and ores containing pentlandite. -
phosphate mine
A site where naturally occurring phosphate minerals are extracted from the earth. -
platinum mine
A mine extracting natural platinum-bearing deposits, including recovery alongside nickel or copper. -
salt mine
A mine extracting naturally occurring halite, or rock salt, from deposits within the earth. -
tin mine
A mine extracting natural tin ore deposits, principally cassiterite, for recovery of tin. -
titanium mine
A mine extracting natural titanium ore deposits, especially minerals such as rutile and ilmenite. -
uranium mine
A mine extracting uranium from natural deposits for subsequent use, commonly as fuel for nuclear power. -
zinc mine
A mine extracting natural zinc ore deposits, commonly containing the mineral sphalerite.