Identification guide · Native Elements
How to Identify Silver
Silver is usually silver white and gray with a metallic luster and is opaque. It has a Mohs hardness of 2.75. A copper coin (Mohs 3.5) scratches it, but a fingernail does not. Its streak is silver white. It is most often confused with Cobaltite, Galena, and Platinum; the tests below separate them.
Silver identification checklist
| Color | Silver white, Gray | Look at a clean, dry surface in daylight. Color zoning, banding or spots are as diagnostic as the hue. |
|---|---|---|
| Luster | Metallic | Turn it under a lamp: a true metallic shine reflects like polished metal and stays opaque at thin edges. |
| Transparency | Opaque | Hold a thin edge up to a bright light and note whether light passes through. |
| Mohs hardness | 2.75 | A copper coin (Mohs 3.5) scratches it, but a fingernail does not. |
| Streak | Silver white | Drag a corner across unglazed porcelain (the back of a bathroom tile) and check the powder color. |
| Cleavage | None | |
| Fracture | Hackly | |
| Specific gravity | 10.5 | Very heavy, metallic heft (specific gravity about 10.5). |
| Crystal system | Cubic |
Silver look-alikes and how to tell them apart
Cobaltite is harder (Mohs 5.5) than Silver (Mohs 2.75), so Cobaltite will scratch Silver and not the other way round. A copper coin (Mohs 3.5) scratches it, but a fingernail does not. Silver vs Cobaltite →
Both sit near Mohs 2.75, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Silver vs Galena →
Platinum is harder (Mohs 4.25) than Silver (Mohs 2.75), so Platinum will scratch Silver and not the other way round. A copper coin (Mohs 3.5) scratches it, but a fingernail does not. Silver vs Platinum →
Both sit near Mohs 2.75, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Silver vs Sterling Silver →
Field tips
- Look for silver-white metallic color, high density, and hackly fracture, often with a dark tarnish.
- Native silver is ductile and malleable rather than brittle, and frequently forms wires or dendrites.
- Confirm valuable or unusual specimens with provenance, density checks, and a qualified assay when needed.
Silver identification FAQ
How can you tell if a rock is Silver?
Check the color (silver white and gray), the metallic luster, a Mohs hardness of 2.75 and a silver white streak. Photographing it with the StoneSnap app gives a match in seconds.
What is the hardness of Silver?
Silver has a Mohs hardness of 2.75. A copper coin (Mohs 3.5) scratches it, but a fingernail does not.
What is the difference between Silver and Cobaltite?
Silver (Mohs 2.75, metallic luster) and Cobaltite (Mohs 5.5, metallic luster) look alike, but hardness, streak and heft usually separate them. See the full Silver vs Cobaltite comparison for a side-by-side table.
Is Silver worth anything?
Entry-level Silver specimens sell for around $20, typical collector pieces about $300, and premium examples $3000 or more depending on size, quality and locality.
What color is Silver?
Silver is most often silver white and gray. Color varies with impurities and locality, so confirm with hardness and luster rather than color alone.
