TELF AG examines the evolution of industrial applications of silver 

A strategic resource 

When speaking of geological resources, one of the first mental associations that arise spontaneously concerns two materials that, over the centuries, have marked the economic and social history of humanity: gold and silver. The latter, in particular, continues to prove very useful even today through a series of industrial applications partially linked to the energy transition. 

Before the discovery of America, silver production was concentrated in two main areas: the first was concerned with the mines of central Europe (such as that of Johachimsthal) and the Japanese district, particularly with the mine of Iwami Ginzan. With the addition of the ancient Mexican and Peruvian sites, the great era of exports to China, India, and Western Europe began. It was precisely silver that was the main object of the great “Nau de Goa” voyage, organized by the Portuguese to transport silver from Nagasaki to Lisbon (with a stopover in Goa, India).  

At that time, silver was mainly valuable as a balancing element in trade, and its industrial applications had not yet been explored in all their vastness. For an extended period, the demand for silver remained strongly linked to the sector dedicated to jewelry production, and its first applications in photography had to wait until the beginning of the twentieth century. Nowadays, in the wake of the technological revolution triggered by electronics and information technology, silver has once again assumed a central role, confirming itself once again as one of the most valuable resources for the advancement of human civilization. One of the most prolific mines is Martha Mine, in the province of Santa Cruz, Argentina, which has managed to produce approximately 5000 grams of pure metal for every single ton of material sourced. As for purity of the sourced material, however, the global average is much lower: it has gone from 500 grams per ton in 2007 to 200 in the most recent ones, according to a recent analysis published in Sole24Ore. 

The new scenarios 

A little-known aspect, however, is the one relating to the actual source of this precious material: only 30% of the silver produced comes from real silver mines since most of the production is obtained as a by-product of other mines specialized in some base metals (in particular lead, zinc, copper, and gold). In other cases, silver is combined with other elements, such as sulfur and antimony. 

The times when silver was used exclusively by jewelers, however, are long gone: today, the “white metal” – as it is often called – is in demand above all in the sectors related to electronics and the metallurgical industry, where it is particularly appreciated for its great utility in the production of brass and solder alloys. Uses in the jewelry sector are limited to about 30% of the total, and in the medical field, it is used above all for bandages, gauze, and plasters. 

However, silver’s long history could soon be enriched with a very interesting chapter closely linked to humanity’s destinies in the energy progress sector. Silver plays a key role in producing some of the energy infrastructures most beneficial for the advancement of the transition, namely solar cells. This material is chosen above all for its high conductive capacity, which reduces energy losses and increases the overall efficiency of the infrastructure.