SILVER 433 SIMBIRSK It is sectile and about as hard as gyp- sum; sp. gr., 6.2. This mineral is a com- position of silver (about 68.5 per cent.) with antimony and sulphur and traces of iron, copper, and arsenic. It is found in veins along with other ores of silver, and is a valuable ore for the extraction of silver. It occurs chiefly in Saxony, Bo- hemia, Hungary, and the American con- tinent. Red silver is found in crystals and often massive, granular, and even as an impalpable powder. It is a double sulphide of silver and antimony, contain- ing on an average 60 per cent, of silver. It occurs in veins with other silver ores, galena, and blende. It is found in various parts of Saxony, also in Bohemia, Hun- gary, and Norway; but chiefly in Mexico, Peru, and the western United States. Horn silver, or silver chloride, occurs in crystals and also in crusts and granular masses. It contains about 76 per cent, of silver. It is found in the upper parts of veins in clay-slate, and also in beds with other silver ores or with iron ochre. It is not abundant in Europe, but occurs in large masses in Mexico and Peru. Silver is extracted from its various ores by smelting or amalgamation. The silver mines of North and South America are incomparably more impor- tant than those of all the rest of the world. The Mexican mines were worked before the Spanish conquest, and produced large quantities of silver. There are great deposits of silver in Nevada, Ari- zona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Mon- tana, New Mexico, and Utah. Silver ore, chiefly argentiferous galena, has also been found in great quantities in the Barrier Ranges of New South Wales. In the Andes Mountains and adjacent sections are marvelous deposits of silver and other minerals, especially iron and copper. Bolivia is unsurpassed in her possession of extensive and rich silver mines. Peru is but little less fortunate in her silver resources and it is said more than 2,000 yielding mines are within her boundaries. At Hualgayoc, in northern Peru, and at the base of the W. spur of the Andes, there are within 40 square leagues 400 silver mines, some of them yielding 300 ounces to the ton. Indians are employed to work in these mines and their only tools are drills, hammers, and raw-hide sacks. They fairly burrow through the mountain, gathering only the richest parts of the ore. Considerable quantities of silver are produced in Europe. The average pro- duction of Germany (before the World War) was about $8,000,000. In Great Britain silver is obtained from argen- tiferous lead ore. The following is the production of sil- ver in the United States in 1919: State or Territory Fine ounces Value Alaska 690,151 $ 773,570 Arizona 5,702,911 6,392,222 California 1,153,614 1,293,051 Colorado 5,966,606 6,687,790 Georgia 8 9 Idaho 5,933,076 6,650,207 Illinois 6,000 6,725 Maine 4,142 4,643 Michigan 425,610 477,054 Missouri 75,991 85,176 Montana 15,012,258 16,826,790 Nevada 7,045,395 7,896,972 New Mexico 851, S21 954,781 North Carolina ... 19 21 Oregon 236,620 265,220 Philippine Islands. 15,715 17,614 South Carolina .... 2 2 South Dakota 122,068 136,822 Tennessee 97,554 109,345 Texas 539,483 604,690 Utah 12,542,623 14,058,650 Vermont 2,200 2,466 Virginia 8 9 Washington 258,270 289,487 Wyoming 300 336 56,682,445 $63,533,652 SILVER QUESTION. See Bimetal- lism: Bryan, William Jennings; Mc- Kinley, William. SILVESTER I., Pope, elected in 314. The Arian heresy commenced in his pon- tificate, and he distinguished himself against the Donatists. He died 336. SILVESTER II., was at first a monk in Auvergne, but his superior talents exciting the envy and hatred of his com- panions, he withdrew from the monastery and went to Spain. The Duke of Barce- lona took him to Italy where he was noticed by the Emperor Otho, who gave him an abbey, which he afterward quitted, and proceeding to Germany became pre- ceptor to Otho III. He was afterward tutor to the son of Hugh Capet, by whom he was made Archbishop of Rheims. By the interest of Otho he gained the papacy in 999. He was a man of considerable learning, particularly in the mathematical sciences. He died in 1003. SIMBIRSK, a government of eastern Russia. It is bounded on the N. by Kazan, on the S. by Saratov, and it has an area of 19,110 square miles. The surface is mountainous and in the west is inter- sected by rivers. The soil is fertile, and agriculture is developed, while the forests yield much timber. Hats, boots and bags are made in the towns. Pop. (1915) 2,124,500. SIMBIRSK, the capital of the govern- ment of Simbirsk, Russia. It is situated on the right bank of the river Volga, about 579 miles S. E. of Moscow. Its situation is elevated and picturesque and it has handsome gardens. It is the center of a horse-raising region, has some dis- tilleries, and an annual fair. Pop. about 70,500.
