Silver

  • The Romans extracted Silver from Lead Ore produced by Mines in Spain, Britain and Sardinia.
  • They used smelting to extract the silver from the lead ore.

The Mines

  • Spain
    • Spain and later Britain were the highest producers of lead and silver, with the Mines located in the Rio Tinto area and the Sierra Almagrera of Almeria.
  • Britannia
    • Britannia had the next highest Lead and Silver Production and eventually exceeded production from Spain.
    • The Lead Mines were located in the Mendips, Wales, Derbyshire, Durham and Northumberland.
  • Sardinia
    • Sardinia was third in Mining Production, after Spain and Britannia.
    • The mines of Sarrabus (Silver), Ingortosu and Planusartu.
    • Mining production for the whole Roman period (674 yrs) was 600,000 Tons of Lead and 1,000 Tons of Silver.
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