Although all types of mining leave nasty scars on the planet, silver is perhaps the least damaging of the precious metals—although that isn’t saying much.

Mining processes involve blasting through mountainsides, excavating open pits, hauling up tons of ore from deep underground, crushing it, drenching it in cyanide to separate out the metal, and then heating it to lava-like temperatures (in a process know as smelting) to remove the impurities. Unfathomable amounts of energy and waters are consumed along the way. In the end, the small amount of pure metal recovered is but a tiny needle compared with the haystack of toxic waste left in its wake, which will continue to poison the surrounding land and water for decades after the mine is abandoned.

Take gold, for example. Today, more than 80 percent of the gold mined around the world is made into jewelry. But the extraction of the one-third of an ounce of gold found in an 18-karat gold ring requires nearly 14,000 gallons of water and roughly 180 kWh of energy—enough to power the average U.S. home for nearly a week—and leaves behind an estimated 20 tons of waste rock and ore.

Compared with gold, mining silver requires less than 3 percent of the water and energy consumed per ounce, and 500 times less waste per ounce. However, the sheer volume of silver mining around the world takes a heavy toll on the environment.

Platinum, which is rarer than gold, is more energy-intensive to mine than either of the other two metals because most pits are underground. And the waste-to-metal ratio for platinum mining is reported to be nearly six times greater than that for gold.

The list of environmental and human impacts related to nearly all mining operations around the world goes on to include destroyed wildlife habitats, toxic air pollution from smelting processes, transport costs, exploitation of lax host-country environmental regulations (and of workers in developing countries), and violation of indigenous-community land rights.

If you’re looking to buy new jewelry but would like to stay away from such harmful mining practices, consider visiting an eco-conscious jeweler who’s committed to selling more environmentally and socially responsible products. Recycled or vintage pieces are also a great way to go. They don’t require mining, can be altered to fit your tastes and style, and often offer higher-quality craftsmanship than much of the jewelry produced today.—Colleen Howell