What is in platinum?

Natural platinum is a mixture of six isotopes: platinum-190 (0.012 percent), platinum-192 (0.782 percent), platinum-194 (32.86 percent), platinum-195 (33.78 percent), platinum-196 (25.21 percent), and platinum-198 (7.36 percent). All are stable except platinum-190, which has been reported as a long-lived alpha emitter.

What is platinum made out of?

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 worth more than gold?

Price. Platinum: Despite being nearly identical in appearance, platinum is more valuable than gold. Platinum's high price point can be attributed to its rarity and density as precious metals are often priced by their weight.

What is so special about platinum?

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. It is also ductile, making it easy to stretch into wire, and unreactive, which means it doesn't oxidize and is unaffected by common acids.

What are 5 things made of platinum?

Platinum is used in catalytic converters, laboratory equipment, electrical contacts and electrodes, platinum resistance thermometers, dentistry equipment, and jewelry.

PLATINUM Documentary: Mining, Science and History

Is platinum better than silver?

The difference in durability is really no contest between platinum and silver. Silver is a soft metal that wears down quickly and tarnishes easily. One of the biggest advantages of platinum is its high melting point, making it hard enough to not require any alloys.

What everyday items contain platinum?

Platinum has often been used in cigarette boxes, lighter cases, cigarette and cigar holders, cigar cutters, and other smoking accessories. Now that smoking is becoming less popular, a number of these items are “washing back” onto the marketplace.

What is the disadvantage of platinum?

The downside of Platinum is that it tends to lose its high polish and sharp edges fairly quickly. This is not because they are being worn away but, more accurately, they are being moulded like clay around the surface of the ring.

Why is platinum so rare on earth?

It is not as abundant as gold. Plus, it can only be found in a few earth deposits that are mineable. The location in which this precious metal happens to be mined includes South Africa, North America, Russia and South Africa. Roughly, two-thirds of the supply of the world is found in South Africa.

Why is platinum rare on earth?

Platinum in the Earth's crust originates from ultra-mafic igneous rocks. It can therefore be associated with rocks like chromite and olivine. In nature, pure platinum is unknown and well formed crystals are very rare.

What is the rarest precious metal?

Rhodium, iridium and ruthenium are perhaps the rarest, roughly 1/5 as common as platinum. However, the sale price of rhodium is typically a bit less than that of platinum, and the rest are even less expensive because they are simply less useful.

Why is platinum so cheap?

Experts posit that platinum is about 15–20 times scarcer than gold and approximately 60–100 times scarcer than silver, on the basis of annual mine production. Since 2014, platinum prices have fallen lower than gold. Approximately 75% of global platinum is mined in South Africa.

Does platinum ever rust?

Known as the precious metals, platinum, gold and silver are all pure metals, therefore they contain no iron and cannot rust. Platinum and gold are highly non-reactive, and although silver can tarnish, it is fairly corrosion-resistant and relatively affordable by comparison.

What are 3 interesting facts about platinum?

Why is my platinum ring turning yellow?

If your platinum ring is turning yellow, it may actually be white gold plated with rhodium and sold as platinum at a higher price. Platinum will never turn yellow – or discolor - even if it contains other metals.

What metal is 30 times rarer than gold?

Platinum is 30 times more rare than gold.

How much platinum is left on earth?

Total worldwide reserves of platinum group metals are estimated to be some 70,000 metric tons. Almost all of it, some 90 percent, is located in the Earth's crust of South Africa. Far behind it, other major countries are Russia, Zimbabwe, the United States, and Canada.

Where is platinum found in the United States?

The country owns two platinum producing mines including the Stillwater Mine, located in Nye, Montana, and the East Boulder Mine, which is located by Big Timber, Montana. The Stillwater platinum/palladium mine is in the Beartooth Mountains, 130km southwest of Billings, Montana.

Why is platinum not as valuable as gold?

One reason is that precious metals are priced by weight, and platinum is much denser than gold, meaning it is heavier. Though by weight, both metals are in a fairly similar price range, the density of platinum means that more quantity is required to create jewelry pieces thereby making these pieces more expensive.

Why choose platinum over white gold?

Platinum is easier to maintain over time than white gold. Platinum is also the most hypoallergenic of all metals, because of its purity. Platinum is made of 95% pure platinum, where white gold is made out of 75% pure gold, and 25% other metals.

Why did platinum become less valuable than gold?

Gold is more steadily in demand than platinum. The industries that gold is most commonly used in—jewelry, electrical, and medical—rely less on economic factors to influence its demand. In fact, in times of economic downturn, gold's value often increases!

What is the most valuable item to scrap?

1. Copper. Copper is one of the most valuable scrap items. Most scrap dealers will buy copper at a high price because it consistently generates high value.

Is platinum Magnetic or not?

Platinum is commonly used in jewellery and electronics. Although this precious metal looks great and is an excellent conductor, it has no magnetic properties.

How much platinum is in a catalytic converter?

Although the quantities vary by model, on average, only one standard catalytic converter contains about 3-7 grams of platinum, 2-7 grams of palladium, 1-2 grams rhodium.