-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Jb8SVGtDmhyt1uOYrgYN/a0Zf596dpSMxF7UlN9GDW3H0BVmhJyil5uf5WI9Lb95
 YWcqKrcf9txEae9julmh3Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-04-007480.txt : 20040315
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-04-007480.hdr.sgml : 20040315
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040315174134
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-04-007480
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040311
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040315

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HANNA DAVID SEAN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001272759

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13627
		FILM NUMBER:		04670699

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10 DEVEAUX STREET PO BOX N-4877
		STREET 2:		C/O ARTHUR D HANNA & CO
		CITY:			NASSAU BAHAMAS
		STATE:			C5
		ZIP:			00000

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			APEX SILVER MINES LTD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001011509
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	GOLD & SILVER ORES [1040]
		IRS NUMBER:				841363747
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CALEDONIAN HOUSE MARY STREET
		STREET 2:		GEORGETOWN BWI
		CITY:			GRAND CAYMAN ISLAND
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3038395060

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CALEDONIAN HOUSE MARY STREET
		STREET 2:		GEORGETOWN BWI
		CITY:			GRAND CAYMAN ISLAND
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-03-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001011509</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>APEX SILVER MINES LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SIL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001272759</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HANNA DAVID SEAN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ARTHUR D. HANNA &amp; CO.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>CHAMBERS, 10 DEVEAUX ST., PO BOX N-4877</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NASSAU, BAHAMAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>C5</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>BAHAMAS</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Employee Director Share Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>21.50</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>406</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-03-11</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-03-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Ordinary Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>406</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>52408</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Mark A. Lettes, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----