Mineral Spotlight
Platinum
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Used In:
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Catalysts for the control of automobile and industrial plant emissions
Electronics as in electrical contacts, capacitors,
conductive and resistive films used in circuits
Glass fibers for reinforced plastics
Fuel cells
Used as a chemical in production of nylon and
polyester
Synthetic rubber
Oil refining
Photography
Spark plugs
Magnet (when combined with cobalt)
Dentistry: used in crowns and bridges
Medicine: pacemakers, biomedical devices,
chemotherapy, and pharmaceuticals
Jewelry and coinage
Why does it work?
Platinum Group metals’ distinctive properties
include resistance to chemical attack, excellent
high-temperature characteristics, and stable
electrical properties. All these properties have
been exploited for industrial applications.
Why is it important?
Platinum is one of the rarest metals on Earth. It is
also the one of the most expensive of all precious
metals to purchase.
Where do we mine it?
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In the US: Montana
Around the world: Russia, Canada,
Zimbabwe, S. Africa, Colombia, Peru,
Australia
Fun facts:
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The Spaniards name the metal “platina,” or “little silver,” when they first encountered it in Colombia
in 1735. They regarded platinum as an unwanted impurity in the silver they were mining.
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