Platinum nugget

Platinum mining

Properties of Platinum

Platinum is a chemical element with the atomic symbol Pt and an atomic number of 78. It is in group 10 of the Periodic Table of Elements. A heavy, malleable, ductile, precious, gray-white transition metal, platinum is resistant to corrosion and occurs in some nickel and copper ores along with some native deposits. Platinum does not oxidize in air at any temperature, but can be corroded by cyanides, halogens, sulphur, and caustic alkalis. This metal is insoluble in hydrochloric and nitric acid, but does dissolve in the mixture known as aqua regia. Platinum is an extremely rare metal, occurring as only 0.003 ppb in the Earth's crust, and is 30 times rarer than gold.
Platinum is used in jewellery, laboratory equipment, electrical contacts, dentistry, and automobile emissions control devices. Platinum's wear- and tarnish-resistance characteristics are well suited for making fine jewellery. For its catalytic property, platinum is used in catalytic converters, incorporated in automobile exhaust systems, as well as tips of spark plugs. It is used as a catalyst in fuel cells, crucibles for high temperature melting of glass, dental fillings and in watchmaking. Because of its chemical inertness and high fusing point, platinum is valuable for laboratory apparatus, such as crucibles, tongs, funnels, combustion boats, and evaporating dishes.

The Platinum mining industry

The leading producers of platinum are South Africa, Russia and Canada. In 2005, South Africa was the top producer of platinum with almost 80% share. There are fewer than ten significant platinum mining companies in the world. Of the platinum group metals platinum and palladium have the greatest economic importance and are found in the largest quantities. The other four pgm - rhodium, ruthenium, iridium and osmium - are produced only as co-products of platinum and palladium.
The Noril'sk site in Siberia began production in 1935 producing copper and nickel as the main product with palladium and platinum being the by-products. Platinum was discovered in Zimbabwe's Great Dyke in 1925, but early attempts at mining were generally unsuccessful, and it is only in recent years that platinum production has reached significant levels. In South Africa the Bushveld Compex began production in 1925 producing platinum as its main product with palladium and rhodium being the by-products. In North America, the Stillwater mine in Montana, began producing mostly palladium, in 1987, whilst in Canada production of began around 1908 when Inco began mining nickel.