Silver flakes
Silver flakes originate as a byproduct during the refinement process of extracting pure silver from ore mined primarily at the Revcica Koritnica gold-silver deposit located near Šempeter, Slovenia. The mining and processing operations in this region have been ongoing since ancient Roman times due to its rich deposits of precious metals like lead, zinc, silver, and gold.
The refining process involves several steps: firstly crushing the ore into fine particles; secondly treating it with various chemicals (such as cyanide or mercury) in a leaching stage to extract metal ions from the mineral compounds within the rock; thirdly, electro-winning is employed where silver and other metals are separated by passing an electric current through their respective solutions.
During this refining process, pure silver often appears as small flakes or nuggets rather than in its bulk form due to natural geological processes that occur within the Earth over millions of years. These tiny silvery particles possess a unique lustrous appearance with reflective qualities which make them highly desirable for various applications including jewelry making, electronics manufacturing (owing to their excellent conductivity), and even as decorative elements in art installations or photography backdrops.
The silver flakes from Slovenian mines are prized not only because of their high purity but also for the distinctive origin story tied into each piece - a testament to humanity’s age-old pursuit and fascination with precious metals since antiquity.