Commercial silver bars - In the context of Got Gold Repor???

http://www.gotgoldreport.com/2010/11/sunday-ggr-now-public.html

In this report (toward the end), the term "commercial silver bars" is referenced. What exactly are commercial silver bars? I don't think they mean the 100 oz .999 bars. Could they mean raw round bars as drilled out of the ground?

If they don't mean traditional silver bars, are these bars something the average investor can purchase?

Thank you,

 

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A couple of possibilities:

1. I believe their defintion of commercial, could be that which trades on the market on a regular basis at market prices or that which is produced for use on the market. This would be the opposite of industrial silver which is used in manufacturing and which does trade slightly differently than "commercial" silver.

2. It also might be used to exclude goverment-produced PM products, which tend to enjoy a slightly stronger market position. Where "commercial" silver is produced by the private sector.

 

What does that mean?

 

When researching mining stocks, I have seen round bar rolls photographed. Maybe just samples?? I am still not sure if it is possible to participate in the investment opportunities related to the form of silver mentioned in the article - commercial silver bars.

 

Pure silver does not come directly out of the ground. What you are talking about is most likely the sample cores that are split in half and assayed. (The other half is saved so they can confirm assay results on the first half later if need be.)

 

I looked at the article, couldn't find the exact quote...However, I believe what "commercial" in this context refers to is the bars like JM, Engelhard, etc that investors purchase.

Industrial would be silver or gold shot/bars used in the manufacturing of goods.

 

Companies like JM and Englehard would use industrial metals, melt them, and stamp/pour commercial metals. (simplified version)

 

I believe they are referring to the 1000 ounce COMEX-eligible bars.

 

That was very informative. Thanks.

 

Thanks everyone. You have given me some very good responses.

 

+1 I agree, they refer to the 1k oz. COMEX bars.



Look at the PM price charts on Kitco.com, scroll down to the bottom of the page and you will see this:

They do have such 1k oz. bars listed at the store link if you are curious what they are.

The product details of these 1k oz. bars say:

 

Thanks Krispy.

 

In Nevada, there are leech fields. Layer of ore, arsenic pipes, layer of ore, pipes, ore, pipes, etc. You get the idea.

In China, check out Silver Corp, SVM is the ticker. Their ore, raw ore, is 50/50 lead/silver. It sparkles when you hold a chunk in your hand. The by product of their mine is gold. They are 1st and foremost a silver mine. (I have seen their ore in person and held it in my hand. I have friends who have visited the mine in China.)

 

While silver is a by-product of gold mining, more is produced from the mining of base metals-- zinc, lead, and copper.