Curious to know more about the 10 biggest silver mines in the world? Let’s go on a journey based on contained silver reserves through Mexico, the world’s biggest silver producing country, and Poland, among other countries.
1. Penasquito
The world’s biggest silver mine by reserve is located in the north-eastern part of the State of Zacatecas, Mexico, and operated by Goldcorp.
2. Polkowice-Sieroszowice
Located in the Legnica-Glogow Copper Belt of Poland, this mine is owned and operated by the state-owned mining enterprise KGHM.
3. San Cristobal
This silver-lead-zinc mine is located 500 kilometers south of the city of La Paz, in Bolivia, and owned by Minera San Cristobal.
4. Pitarrilla
The fourth biggest silver mine in the world is located in the State of Durango, Mexico. The deposit is owned by the Vancouver-based mining company Silver Standard.
5. Lubin
Located 347 km south-west of Warsaw, Poland, the fifth biggest silver mine in the world is one of the three mines owned and operated by KGHM in the Legnica-Glogow copper basin of Poland.
6. Rudna
The third mine owned and explored by KGHM in the Legnica-Glogow copper belt of Poland.
7. Gumuskoy
Located in the Kutahya province of western Turkey, this mine, also known as the Eti Gumus silver mine, is explored by the Turkish state-owned mining company Eti Mine Works.
8. Fresnillo
Located about 60km north-west of Zacatecas, in Mexico, the eighth biggest silver mine is one of the oldest in the world.
9. Antamina
The ninth biggest silver mine in the world is located 200 kilometers from the city of Huaraz, in the Andes Mountains of Peru, and explored by the Compania Minera Antamina.
10. Cannington
This underground mine located in northwest Queensland, Australia, is actually the biggest silver producing mine in the world. The pit is owned and operated by BHP Billiton.