The art and science of extracting silver metal economically from various ores, and the reclamation of silver from the myriad types of industrial processes or scrap produced therefrom. It includes all processes of separating silver from its ores, alloys, and solutions, as well as the smelting, refining, and working of the metal and its alloys and compounds. It deals with the technical application of the chemical and physical properties of silver, to its concentration, extraction, purification, alloying, working, and compounding to meet the requirements of ever-expanding technical needs.