Silver ore from Mexico. Courtesy of the Laboratory for Material Culture Studies, Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University.
Product made with silver: Mirror.
Silver is a precious metal known for its electrical conductivity and reflective properties. It is used in jewellery, industry, medicine and photography. In Bolivia, at the Cerro Rico silver mine – whose name means ‘rich mountain’ – dangerous working conditions mean mine workers have a low life expectancy, so it became known as ‘the mountain that eats men’. Besides poor working conditions, silver mining also leads to water pollution and loss of biodiversity. Recycling and sustainable alternatives are therefore becoming increasingly important.
Silver
