The Element, Silver, is a heavy metallic element with a brilliant white luster. The chemical symbol for silver, Ag, derives from its Latin name, argentum, meaning "white and shining"--an apt description. The top and bottom photo's are of native silver, and the center photo is of a high grade silver sulfide ore which assayed 211 ounces of silver per ton of ore. The silver is contained in the dark gray areas and the host rock is quartz. The metal has been used as currency since ancient times, both in the mass (bullion) and in the form of coins. Silver shares Group IB of the periodic table with gold and copper. Silver, gold, platinum, and mercury are together categorized as noble metals because they do not oxidize readily when heated, nor do they dissolve in most of the inorganic acids. Because of silver's value it is also categorized as a precious metal, as are gold, platinum, iridium, and palladium. Besides being a monetary metal, silver has also long been used for making jewelry, solid silver or silver-plated objects such as eating utensils. Photography, catalysts, brazing alloys, dental amalgam, bearings and electronics make up the major commercial uses of silver. Photography used to be the primary use of silver, however since the advent of digital and non film based photography, silver's industrial uses now constitute the primary demand for the precious metal, accounting for 40% of silver used, with photography accounting for 22%, and jewelry and silverware makes up for 31% of the silver consumption.