It is quite successful method to recover both silver and gold from their native states. The powdered ore is mixed with water to form a slurry which is passed over amalgamated copper plates. Heavier particles of silver and copper are retained by mercury to form the respective amalgams (Ag – Hg , Au – Hg). These plates are removed and then dried amalgam is crapped from the plates, from which mercury is separated by distillation leaving behind the metal in pure state.