Raw Silver Ore

Origin: Silverfields Mine (Alexandra Mine), Timiskaming Dist., Cobalt, Ontario, Canada Mohs Hardness: 2.5-2.8
Geologic Age: Paleoproterozoic (2,500 – 1,600 million years ago)  

Silver Ore is a soft, but beautiful, highly reflective mineral often used to make alloys such as White Gold and 925 (Sterling) Silver. It forms from sulfur compounds produced within hydrothermal veins in the Earth’s crust where it heats up to 200-400 degrees Fahrenheit. Native Silver is found with other metals or in minerals with silver compounds such as Cerussite or Galena. This Silver Ore has an interesting history. In 1908, a shaft on the property known as Alexandra was sunk. Native silver was not discovered at that point and the project was abandoned. In 1962, the Silverfields Corporation located the original shaft, de-watered and repaired it, and commenced Diamond drilling. The operators successfully located a large Silver/Cobalt vein system that began production in 1963. That mine produced over 20 million ounces of native silver! However, all good things must come to an end, and the mine closed in 1983. That history is what makes Silverfields Mine Native Silver so rare and special because it can only be found in private collections!