This Week on the Bullion Marketplace

• 2008 American Eagle $5 Gold Proof One-tenth with Box – The American Eagle Gold Proof Coins are collector versions of the official United States Mint American Eagle Gold Bullion Coins and are available in limited mintages in four sizes one-tenth ounce – $399.99
• NEW Buffalo/Indian Head Nickel Art Coin 1 oz .999 Silver Bullion – This is 1 Troy Oz. coin made of .999 Pure Silver and shaped into the form of an old Buffalo nickel. Silver is an excellent investment (if it’s pure) – $20.69
• 2010 Canadian (1 oz) Silver Maple Leaf –  Straight from the Royal Canadian Mint 2010 Canadian (1 oz) Silver Maple Leaf – $22.95
• 1 oz (.999) Fine Silver Bar – Eagle Design – * 1 oz (.999) Fine Investment Grade Silver * Iconic Silver Eagle * Each Bar Sold Separately We guarantee you will receive nothing but .999 fine silver. – $22.95
• 2010 Silver American Eagle – West Point Mint – Investment Grade Silver Bullion – These gorgeous coins are minted at West Point, New York and contain one ounce of 0.999 pure silver. These are legal tender silver dollar coins authorized by the United States government. – $20.75

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Bloomberg Notices Silver:Gold Ratio

Bloomberg today (June 3, 2009) has published an article by Jason Scott that specifically points to the massive drop in the silver:gold ratio since it peaked above 84 in early October to the current 61 area. It’s not often that the mainstream press mentions this ratio, and it bodes well for the future spreading of the silver story.

Of course, when the ratio has gone from over 70 to 61 in around a month’s time, and silver is now up almost 50% on the year (compared to gold’s 14%), the financial media are supposed to notice these things. Let’s see how long it takes CNBC to pick up on the news.

Meanwhile on June 2nd, a Silverseek.com article quoted British scientist Valerie Edward Jones on how “advances in technology, particularly nanotechnology, are allowing scientists to increasingly apply silver’s benefits in more areas”, including “healthcare and hygiene”. She then pointed out its use in deodorants in Europe.

Tags: bloomer news, silver gold ratio, Silver News, silver's benefit

“Economy — On the Verge of Collapse”

“The inevitable demise of the subprime mortgage market leaves the entire housing market — and with it the economy — on the verge of collapse,” said Bill Fleckenstein, a contrarian editor for MSN Money.

Fleckenstein further believes the economy is in a credit bubble and real estate will soon demise.

Mike a contrarian blogger, “wonders if he’s still bullish on gold and silver.”

“It’s not a viable business when you lend money to people you know can’t pay it back,” said Fleckenstein, speaking of the subprime sector.

Silver-based Products for Horse Care Introduced

EquiFit, Inc., a company based in Dedham, Massachusetts, that sells products for horses and their riders, has launched a new line of silver-based products that includes AgSilver CleanBalm, CleanGel, CleanTalc and CleanWash. These products are follow-ups to SilverClene24 spray, which offers a non-toxic way to kill viruses, fungi and bacteria in equine environments.

The AgSilver Clean products, based on AgION technology, are non-toxic and free of chemical detergents, synthetic fragrances and colors, according to EquiFit officials.

AgSilver CleanBalm is a petroleum-based ointment for use on shallow cuts, nicks, rubs or abscess drains to control and reduce bacterial, fungal and viral infestation. It contains pure petrolatum and microcrystalline wax with the consistency of a lip balm.

AgSilver CleanGel is a thermoplastic elastomer sheet, impregnated with silver ions. The therapeutic wrap can be used for the treatment of viral, bacterial and fungal infections of wounds. The salt and moisture on the animal’s skin activates the release of the silver ions, and the mineral oil acts as an emollient against dry skin.

AgSilver CleanTalc is made from medical-grade talc and the silver additive can be used directly on the skin, on manes or tails, or on saddle pads, boots and wraps to control odor and kill infectious organisms. It is especially useful in controlling fungal skin conditions. Unlike many talc-based products currently available, CleanTalc contains no added fragrances.

The last new product is AgSilver CleanWash, a shampoo that controls fungal and bacterial infections of the skin. It can be used on infected areas or as a preventative against possible infestation of microorganisms and other parasites.

Some Brushers May be At Risk, So Use Silver

Even though the jury is still out on the potential dangers of naturally occurring germs on toothbrushes – from both harmful and benign microbes found in our mouths – several companies have begun selling dental products using silver as an antibacterial agent.

For example, Silver Care toothbrushes imbed silver in a replaceable head. On contact with water the toothbrush head
releases silver ions that substantially reduce the bacteria on the toothbrush. In clinical studies examining the residual contamination by the Streptococcus Mutans bacteria (the most important cavity-forming microorganism) it was found that the Silver Care toothbrush head reduced bacteria count by well over 80% over 24 hours, while the standard toothbrush had actually increasedits bacterial load over that same time period, according to company officials.

Other silver-imbedded products coming on the market include floss, toothpaste, interdental brushes and tongue brushes.

The US dental establishment agrees that toothbrushes harbor germs but whether or not these germs adversely affect healthy people is uncertain. According to an official statement by the American Dental Association: “Although studies have shown that various microorganisms can grow on toothbrushes after use, and other studies have examined various methods to reduce the level of these bacteria, there is insufficient clinical evidence to support that bacterial growth on toothbrushes will lead to specific adverse oral or systemic health effects.”

On the other hand, the ADA notes: “Although there is insufficient clinical evidence to support that bacterial growth on toothbrushes will lead to specific adverse oral or systemic health effects, a common-sense approach is recommended for situations where patients may be at higher risk to infection or re-infection by various microbes.”

At risk patients include those with a systemic disease that may be transmissible by blood or saliva and those who have a
compromised immune system or low resistance to infection due to disease, chemotherapy or radiation treatment. The ADA suggests that toothbrushes be left to dry after use and replaced every 3 to 4 months.

However, recent studies may change the ADA’s position. One new study has shown a link between gum
disease, usually caused by poor oral hygiene, and pancreatic cancer in men. “Our study provides the first
strong evidence that periodontal disease may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer,” said Dr. Dominique Michaud of the
Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, who led the research.

The study, published in the latest issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, found that men with a history of periodontal disease had a 64 per cent increased risk of pancreatic cancer over men with no such history. Gingivitis, a precursor of periodontal diseases, is caused by bacteria that get into the soft gum tissue and infect it. The main cause of the bacteria is poor dental hygiene which leads to increased bacteria in the mouth.

More Silver Paper Choices for Medical Professionals

Following their counterparts in Europe, the Montreal-based company Domtar, one of the largest paper mills in North America, has begun producing paper containing a silver compound to guard against odors, germs, and the growth of fungus, mold and mildew.

“Aside from the health-care industry, Domtar is targeting the general office and Government office sectors,” says Eric Lavoie, Domtar’s manager of business papers. The cost of the new papers will fall between the price of standard paper and inkjet or premium paper, according to company officials.

The paper is expected to find more immediate use in hospitals and doctor’s offices before finding its way into the general office environment. In 2003, a study in the Journal of Hospital Infection found that MRSA — methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a type of staph infection resistant to certain antibiotics and often found in hospitals and health care facilities — would likely exist on patient case notes.

Silver has been found to be highly effective in preventing the spread of RSA, which at one time was only found in hospitals but now has spread to the general population.

When paper is dry it is unlikely to harbor germs, according to most virologists, but if a person’s fingers are damp, or if they just sneezed or coughed onto the paper before handing it to another person, it could carry microbes.

SilverCo, a Great Neck, NY-based company, which patented the paper process to Domtar, has also licensed it to companies that produce paper products used by the medical profession. For example, Smead Manufacturing Company in Hastings, Minnesota, produce antimicrobial file folders; Brooklyn Park Minnesota-based Medical Arts Press makes medical forms, and Quality Park with headquarters in Englewood, Colorado, produces silver-imbedded envelopes.

Chipmaker AMD Replaces Lead With Tin-Silver Solder

In an effort to go ‘greener,’ chipmaker AMD has agreed to license Amkor Technology’s tin-silver alloy to replace the traditional lead solder in electroplated wafer-bumping technology for semiconductors found in many electronic consumer products, including computers and mobile phones.

Both AMD and its main competitor Intel have for several years been migrating away from lead-based solder for some products, but this agreement is a significant move in that direction.

Wafer bumping involves depositing tiny solder ‘bumps’ onto fabricated semiconductor wafers and is a key step in creating advanced integrated circuit packages. The semiconductor industry is steadily migrating from high-lead alloy formulations to a tin-silver alloy for electroplating bumps onto semiconductor wafers.

The electronics industry is striving to reduce or eliminate certain elements and compounds, such as lead, mercury, cadmium and halogen, in favor of green products in response to legislation in Europe and Japan, overall environmental concerns and market pressures. This drive to adopt green products is especially strong in the consumer electronics market, notes David Bennett, vice president of strategic manufacturing and alliances at AMD.

“This agreement also shows the increasing demand of silver in the electronics industry,” said Silver Monthly.

He says: “As one of the first microprocessor manufacturers to innovate with lead-free bumping technology, AMD is continuing its track record of environmental responsibility and customer-centric thinking in how we produce our products…We are very pleased to license Amkor’s technology as we drive towards a lead-free solution for AMD products.”