Silveris a chemical elementof symbol Ag — from the Latin Argentum — and atomic number47.

This metal is the third non-renewable resource set to disappear thanks to intensive exploitation by mankind.

Remaining workable deposits are estimated at between 270,000 and 383,000 tonnes.

June 2008: at current rates of production, 20,500 tonnes per year, deposits will last 13 years.

Extractable deposits of this metal will therefore disappear for good in 2021.

Note that the figures cited in our study are contested by a source claiming that silver reserves will last another 15 to 20 years and that this element will therefore be exhausted between 2023 and 2028. Another source refers to reserves of 29 years, which would see us through to 2037.

Links: http://news.silverseek.com/and http://environment.newscientist.com

Silver is used in jewellery, mintage, silver-ware and photography (59%). It is also used in industry (in electrical and electronic applications and in brazing, welding and other alloys: 41%)

However problems arising from its disappearance will start to make themselves felt well before any of these fateful dates. Other deposits are less concentrated, or smaller, or extraction of the metal from the ore is harder.

This precious metal was created when a star exploded and the Sun and the Earth were formed from the debris, over five billion years ago.

You cannot produce it artificially and there is no substitute. The Moon and the asteroids do not contain the metal in an extractable form. And just imagine the energy it would take to bring some back from Mars or Venus!

There will still be recycling but demand, which will keep growing exponentially with the development of the emerging economies, will far outstrip supply.

Poland has 20% of current known reserves, Mexico 14% and Peru 13%.

To learn more about silver, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver

Translation Nicholas ROSE