Since ancient times, silver mining dating back to 3000 BC has been a significant human activity, used for currency, jewellery, and decorative items.
It is found in Earth's crust, rare in Mexico and Peru, in silver minerals like argentite, chlorargyrite & pyrargyrite, which contain silver impurity.
Silver is believed to be originating from stars, and is formed through two primary theories:
The s-process, a slow neutron capture process in star cores, involves hydrogen fusion into helium, resulting in the formation of silver atoms.
The r-process, a phenomenon in supernova explosions, involves swift capture of neutrons by heavy element nuclei, leading to formation of silver atoms.
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