History of Silver in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: May 6, 2026

Silver is a soft, lustrous, whitish-gray transition metal with the symbol Ag and atomic number 47. It boasts the highest electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and reflectivity of any metal. Silver is found in its elemental form, in alloys, and in minerals like argentite and chlorargyrite within the Earth's crust. A significant portion of silver production comes as a byproduct of refining other metals such as copper, gold, lead, and zinc.

1978: Discovery of Radiogenic Silver

In 1978, radiogenic silver was first discovered in the Santa Clara meteorite, indicating the presence of unstable nuclides in the early Solar System.

1984: Understanding Silver's Chemical Characteristics

Around 1984, scientists began to understand the chemical characteristics of silver and its potential toxicity in marine life, noting that mercury is the only trace metal with greater toxicity.

1999: Peak Global Demand for Photographic Silver

In 1999, the global demand for photographic silver peaked at 267,000,000 troy ounces (8,304.6 tonnes).

2007: Silver Designated Official Precious Metal of Texas

In 2007, the Texas Legislature designated silver as the official precious metal of the state of Texas.

2013: Contraction of the Photographic Silver Market

By 2013, the market for silver nitrate and silver halides in photography had contracted by almost 70% from its peak in 1999, due to the rise of digital cameras.

2015: Top Near-Term Mine Development Projects

In 2015, the top near-term silver mine development projects included Pascua Lama (Chile), Navidad (Argentina), Jaunicipio (Mexico), Malku Khota (Bolivia), and Hackett River (Canada).