What mineral does platinum come from?

Sources. Platinum is found in its pure native form or in platiniridium, a natural alloy of platinum and iridium. Platinum is present in thin sulfide layers in certain mafic igneous bodies and is mined in Canada, Russia, South Africa, the USA, Zimbabwe and Australia.

What kind of rock is platinum found in?

Platinum is nearly always found in basic igneous rocks, such as peridotite and dunites, and in serpentine derived by alteration of such rocks. By disintegration of these rocks and concentration in stream gravels, platinum accumulates in placers.

What mineral does silver come from?

The most important ore mineral of silver is argentite (Ag2S, silver sulfide). Silver is commonly extracted from ore by smelting or chemical leaching.

What ore is platinum found in?

The main ore minerals of platinum ores are pyrrhotite, chal-copyrite, pentlandite, and cubanite. The main platinum group metals in copper-nickel ores are platinum and palladium, which occurs in greater quantities (Pd:Pt ≧ 3:1).

Is platinum a natural mineral?

The Mineral platinum

Platinum is the rarest and most expensive of the popular precious metals. It is much rarer then Gold. Due to its rarity and value, it is not readily available to mineral collectors and is seldom represented in in all but the highest-end mineral collections. Natural Platinum is fairly impure.

Prospecting for High Grade Platinum ore.

Where is platinum naturally found?

80% of the world's current production comes from South Africa and the Sudbury Basin of Canada. Smaller reserves can be found in the United States, Zimbabwe and Australia. Platinum is also attained through recycling.

Where does platinum come from?

Platinum is found uncombined in alluvial deposits. Most commercially produced platinum comes from South Africa, from the mineral cooperite (platinum sulfide). Some platinum is prepared as a by-product of copper and nickel refining.

Is platinum rare to find?

If translated into numbers, platinum—for all of its known deposits—is considerably more rare than gold and is the rarest metal of all.

Is platinum worth more than gold?

Is platinum more valuable than gold? Platinum is generally valued higher than gold. This is because platinum is rarer than gold, has a higher density and is purer. Platinum rings require more platinum than gold rings require gold, which can increase the overall cost.

What is Diamond mineral?

diamond, a mineral composed of pure carbon. It is the hardest naturally occurring substance known; it is also the most popular gemstone. Because of their extreme hardness, diamonds have a number of important industrial applications.

Can gold and silver be found together?

Silver is most often found together with gold, in a homogeneous alloy known as electrum, an alloy heavily used in the production of coinage in ancient times.

Which is more rare gold or silver?

Interestingly, above-ground silver is actually more rare than gold. In fact, almost all the gold that has been mined to this day is still here, and its use is largely limited to currency, portable wealth, and jewelry. On the other hand, when silver gets used, it's gone forever.

How can you tell if a stone is platinum?

Look for an inscription that says "platinum" on the item.

If your piece is marked with the word "platinum," it is at least 95% pure. More commonly, you will see a number like 850 or 85 followed by "pt" or "plat." This indicates that 85/100 parts are platinum, meaning the piece is 85% pure.

Why is platinum so rare?

The supply for Platinum products is tight, due to the metal being extremely rare. Platinum is mined in very few mining deposits throughout the world and many of the uses of Platinum go to the automotive industry for vehicle emissions devices.

How much platinum is in a catalytic converter?

There are between 3-7 grams of platinum group metals in a standard catalytic converter, but the amount varies based on manufacturer and model. In terms of the extent to which they are used, there are generally around 3 to 7 grams of PGMs in a standard catalytic converter.

What's the most precious metal on earth?

Rhodium. Rhodium holds the title of being the most expensive precious metal on the planet.

How do you extract platinum from rock?

Modern Platinum Mining Techniques. Most of the mining for platinum ore occurs deep underground. To extract the mineral-rich materials, miners pack explosives into holes drilled in the rock and blast it into smaller pieces. The broken rock is then collected and transported to the surface for processing.

Whats worth more diamonds or platinum?

The reality is that both platinum and diamond are invaluable, and they both have their perks. The one to choose will depend on various factors, including how deep your pocket is. Diamond is the most expensive one, but worth every penny.

Is platinum a gold?

While Platinum is a naturally white metal, White Gold is made by combining pure gold (which is yellow in colour) with alloying metals such as Palladium. Because of the yellow metal content, White Gold is actually slightly grey/off-white in colour. This can be corrected by a surface treatment called Rhodium plating.

What kind of metal is platinum?

Platinum is a silver-white metal — it was once known as "white gold." It is extremely resistant to tarnishing and corrosion (which makes it known as a "noble metal") and is very soft and malleable, making it easy to shape; ductile, making it easy to stretch into wire; and unreactive, which means it doesn't oxidize and ...

Is platinum a silver?

Silver and platinum both have gray undertones, unlike white gold which has a warmer, yellow undertone, but platinum is much brighter and shinier and silver has a duller, gray appearance. The difference in durability is really no contest between platinum, white gold and silver.