Where can you find platinum in nature?

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.

Where is platinum found on Earth?

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.

Can platinum be found in nature?

Platinum is one of the most valuable metals on Earth. Its name originates from the Spanish word “platina” or little silver. The Platinum Group Elements (PGEs) can often be found together in nature. These metals include platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, palladium, osmium and iridium.

What 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 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).

Prospecting for High Grade Platinum ore.

Is platinum rare to find?

Platinum is much rarer than both gold and silver — so rare, in fact, that all of the platinum ever mined could fit into your living room. And palladium is even rarer than that. Unlike gold, these metals derive much of their value from industrial uses.

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.

How do I identify platinum?

Identifying Platinum Through Visual Cues and Weight

Pure platinum jewelry, or jewelry that is at least 50% platinum, is typically marked with a stamp (also known as a hallmark). Usually, this mark will include a number like 850 followed by “plat or “pt”, which indicates the piece is 85% pure.

Is platinum rarer than gold?

For starters, gold is far more abundant in the earth's crust, making platinum rarer. Whilst 1,500 tons of gold are mined annually, only 160 tons of platinum are extracted. Platinum is also denser than gold, thus heavier.

How do you extract platinum from rocks?

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.

Is raw platinum heavy?

Hardness is 4 - 4.5. Specific Gravity is 14 - 19+, pure platinum is 21.5 (extremely heavy even for metallic minerals).

Why is platinum so rare?

In general, this rare metal is found in deposits of small grains, dust, or small nuggets that averages from 50 to 75% in purity. Small amounts of platinum are obtained by mining other products. However, this metal is normally found in ores that are mixed with other metals like palladium and gold.

Where can I find platinum in everyday items?

Does platinum stick to a magnet?

Can Platinum be attracted to a magnet? In its purest form, Platinum is a paramagnetic metal. This means that its magnetic element is so weak that it is barely traceable and will not react to magnets. However, pure platinum is considered a precious metal and is one of the rarest materials on earth.

Can you scratch platinum?

Platinum is not a hard metal. It is 4 – 4.5 on the MOHs scale of hardness. This means it can be scratched by anything harder than it is. Diamond is ten on the MOHs scale and can easily scratch platinum.

Can metal detectors detect platinum?

Myth Six: “Metal detectors cannot find platinum.”

This is wrong. Metal detectors can find platinum items that are buried underground or covered with sand. The thing is, people who use detectors don't find these items very often, because statistically speaking, they are rare.

How can you tell a platinum nugget?

A very simple test is take a normal electric tester (ohmmeter) and touch the probes to different metallic spots on the surface. That will immediately tell you whether it's a nugget or just spots painted on the surface.

Are platinum nuggets rare?

Most platinum is microscopic particles that are extracted from ore. Platinum nuggets are extremely rare and platinum is the heaviest of the precious metals and very dense.

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.

Why is platinum so cheap?

Because its demand goes up and down, so does its price. While platinum is often worth more than gold, it is also more likely to decrease in value at a moment's notice.

What's the most precious metal on earth?

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