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What is horn silver?
Is it real or fake silver? Is horn silver the same as raw silver?
Is horn silver only used for extracting silver from it, or are there other application for this mineral?
Find out below!
- What is Horn Silver? Is it Real Silver and How and Where is Horn Silver Mined?
- Is Horn Silver Magnetic?
- Is Horn Silver Allergenic?
- Is There Any Jewelry Made From Horn Silver?
- Is There Any Silver Bullion Made From Horn Silver?
- What is Horn Silver used for?

Table of Contents
What is Horn Silver? Is it Real Silver and How and Where is Horn Silver Mined?
Horn silver is a common name for the mineral cerargyrite, a halide mineral composed primarily of silver chloride (AgCl).
The name “horn silver” comes from its appearance, which is similar to a cow’s horn due to weathering and polishing by wind and dust.
Horn silver is real and it occurs as a secondary mineral, meaning it forms from the alteration of other silver-bearing minerals, often in the oxidized zones of silver deposits.
Horn silver is an ore of silver, meaning it’s a mineral from which silver can be extracted and horn silver is mined alongside other silver forms like argentite and pyrargyrite and other minerals like copper, lead, and zinc.
Is Horn Silver Magnetic?
No, horn silver isn’t magnetic. It’s diamagnetic.
Pure silver is diamagnetic and roughly three quarters (75%) of a horn silver ore consists of pure silver, and this amount of silver makes horn silver diamagnetic.
Is Horn Silver Allergenic?
No, horn silver isn’t allergenic. It’s hypoallergenic.
Most forms of silver are hypoallergenic (for example, sterling silver is hypoallergenic) and horn silver contains roughly 75% pure silver and 25% chlorine.
Chlorine is also hypoallergenic for most people, though there’re people sensitive to it.
Is There Any Jewelry Made From Horn Silver?
No, there’s no jewelry made from horn silver. Horn silver is the mineral cerargyrite from which silver is extracted and used to create silver jewelry.
Is There Any Silver Bullion Made From Horn Silver?
No, there’s no silver bullion (coins and bars) made from horn silver.
Horn silver is the mineral cerargyrite from which silver is extracted and used to create silver bullion, including the IRA-approved silver you can have as part of your silver IRA account.
What is Horn Silver used for?
Horn silver is primarily used as a silver ore.
This means horn silver is used as a source from which silver is extracted (cerargyrite is particularly important in arid and desert regions where it’s often found in the upper parts of silver veins. This means it’s easier to mine it).
Horn silver also has some specific applications due to its properties, such as its antiseptic and disinfectant qualities.
For example, silver chloride is a good antiseptic and disinfectant and helps with wound healing.
What is Horn Silver? A Simple Guide (Conclusion)
Horn silver is the common name for cerargyrite, a mineral composed of silver chloride (AgCl) that gets its name from its horn-like appearance after weathering and being polished by wind and dust.
Horn silver is real silver ore containing about 75% pure silver and 25% chlorine, formed as a secondary mineral in oxidized zones of silver deposits.
Horn silver is diamagnetic and hypoallergenic. It’s primarily used as a silver ore for extracting silver to make jewelry and bullion, rather than being used directly in these products.
The mineral also has antiseptic and disinfectant properties due to its silver chloride content, making it useful for wound healing applications.
References:
- Couple of Greek coins cleaned of most of their Horn Silver, while trying to preserve as much patina as possible.- https://www.reddit.com/r/AncientCoins/comments/18rfn41/couple_of_greek_coins_cleaned_of_most_of_their/
- Horn Silver Mine- https://polmanminerals.com/horn_silver_mine/
- Horn Silver- https://www.cointalk.com/threads/horn-silver.283423/
- What is horn silver? https://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php

Nikola Roza
Nikola Roza is a blogger behind Nikola Roza- SEO for the Poor and Determined. He writes for bloggers who don't have huge marketing budget but still want to succeed. Nikola is passionate about precious metals IRAs and how to invest in gold and silver for a safer financial future. Learn about Nikola here.