| Silver is known by the mankind since Pre-History, and its discovery is estimated happened to shortly after that of copper and gold, even though silver is also found in native form. Archaeological evidence suggests that Egyptians had been using silver for at least since predynastic period (5000 - 3400 B.C.). However before the middle of 2nd millennium B.C. silver was rarity and was more valuable than gold. Ancient Egyptian silver is believed to be obtained from Syria. Earliest silver articles from Egypt and other Western Asian countries contained from 1 to 38% gold and are considered to be smelted from natural alloys. Perhaps such alloys had been called "white gold". |
| Silver is a rare element, its abundance in the Earth& |