The mineral platinum

	Chemical Formula	Pt
	Composition	Platinum, with small traces of other elements such as iron, copper, nickel, gold, or rare earth elements.
	Variable Formula	(Pt,Ir,Os,Rh,Pd,Au,Fe,Cu,Ni)
	Color	Tin-white to silver-gray
	Streak	Silver-gray. Streak is shiny.
	Hardness	4 - 4½ (pure = 4.3)
	Crystal Forms and Aggregates	(Isometric) Crystals, which are cubic, are rare and mostly distorted, with rounded corners. Crystals may be twinned. Most often occuring as small waterworn nuggets, but also as flakes, small grains, encrustings, and occasionally dendrites.
	Transparency	Opaque
	Specific Gravity	14 - 19 (pure = 21.4)
	Luster	Metallic
	Cleavage	None
	Fracture	Hackly
	Tenacity	Ductile and malleable
	Other ID Marks	1) May be slightly attracted to magnetic fields 2) Very good conductor of electricity
	Other Names	Native Platinum
	In Group	Native elements ; Metallic elements
	All About	Platinum is the rarest and most expensive of the precious metals. It is much rarer then Gold. Due to its rarity and lack of good crystals, it is seldom represented in mineral collections and is not readily available to mineral collectors. Natural Platinum is fairly impure. It is always associated with small amounts of other elements, such as gold, copper, nickel, and iron, and many times contains the rare heavy metals iridium, osmium, rhodium, and palladium. These impurities can lower its specific gravity to 14, when pure platinum is 21.4. Most Platinum specimens contain traces of iron, which may cause it to be slightly attracted to magnetic fields.
	Uses	Platinum is an exquisite precious metal used in jewelry as ring settings, bracelets, and necklaces. Platinum jewelry is rare, beautiful, and durable, and is therefore highly regarded. Native Platinum is the most significant source of the element platinum, although considerable quantities are also mined the rare platinum arsenide, Sperrylite. The rare heavy metals iridium, osmium, rhodium, and palladium are almost exclusively mined together with platinum in platinum deposits. Platinum has a number of industrial uses due to its special properties. Its most famous use is as a catalyst, (a widely used anti-pollution device), especially in the manufacturing of cars. It is also used for numerous laboratory apparatuses and as dental fillings. Also see the gemstone section on Platinum
	Striking Features	Extreme heaviness, lack of tarnish, great malleability and ductility, and predictable slight attraction to magnetic fields.
	Complex Tests	Soluble only in aqua regia
	Popularity (1-4)	1
	Prevalence (1-3)	3
	Demand (1-3)	1
	Distinguishing Similar Minerals	Silver - softer (2½ - 3), less dense (9.6 - 12), oxidizes Iron - less dense (7.3 - 7.8), very strongly attracted to magnetic fields
	Commonly Occurs With	Chromite, Olivine, Gold, Enstatite
	Noteworthy Localities	Platinum is rare, with few noteworthy occurrences. Russia is a great producer, especially in Siberia, where two occurences of note are Talnakh and Konder (Khabarovskiy Kray). The worlds largest deposit of Platinum is in the Merensky Reef in the Bushveld Complex, South Africa. Few if any specimens from South Africa ever make it to the mineral market. Colombia has produced fine placer nuggets in Choco Department. In the U.S., the only commercially producing mines are in the Stillwater Complex in Stillwater Co., Montana (specifically the Stillwater Mine near Nye, and the East Boulder Mine, south of McLeod). Alaska has produced some specimens in a few placer deposits, and nuggets from the Salmon River in Goodnews Bay have made their way to collections. Platinum also is found in the placers of Trinity Co., California. Another U.S. locality is Cape Blanco, Curry Co., Oregon. The largest and only producing Platinum mine in Canada is the Lac des Iles Mine, near Thunder Bay, Ontario, which is mined primarily for palladium.
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