Silver mining in the United States

Silver mining in the United States began on a major scale with the discovery of the Comstock Lode in Nevada in 1858. The industry suffered greatly from the demonetization of silver in 1873 by the Coinage Act of 1873, known pejoratively as the "Crime of 73", but still continues today.

United States mines produced 1,100 tons of silver in 2024, making up approximately 4.4% of the worldwide production of silver. Four US mines had silver as their primary product, and 31 mines reported silver as a byproduct of gold and base metals production. Alaska was the country's leading silver-producing state, followed by Idaho.

Interest in silver mining has increased in recent years because of an increased price for the metal: the average silver price increased from $4.39 per troy ounce in 2001, to $13.45 per troy ounce in 2007. In 2011, silver prices rose to almost $49 per troy ounce in April before dropping to around $34 per troy ounce in late June. In March 2016, the silver price was around $15 per troy ounce.