 |
Chemical Formula | Pt |
|
Composition | Platinum, but always containing small amounts of other elements |
|
Variable Formula | (Pt,Ir,Os,Rh,Pd,Au,Fe,Cu,Ni) |
|
Color | Tin-white to silver-gray |
|
Streak | Silver-gray. Streak shiny |
|
Hardness | 4 - 4½ (pure = 4.3) |
|
Crystal Forms and Aggregates |
(Isometric) Crystals, which occur cubic, octahedral, and dodecahedral, are very rare and usually heavily distorted. Usually found as small nuggets, but sometimes occurs 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) Usually slightly attracted to magnetic fields 2) Very good conductor of electricity |
|
Other Names |  Native Platinum |
|
In Group | Native elements ; Metallic elements |
|
All About | Platinum, when found, 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 used for jewelry as ring
setting, 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 occasionally extracted from Native Platinum. 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). It is also used for numerous laboratory apparatuses and as dental fillings. Platinum is only used where another element cannot replace its use, as it is very rare. 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 |
|
Noteworthy Localities |
Platinum is extremely rare. There are few
occurrences. The Ural Mountains in Russia have produced many pea sized nuggets and occasionally larger ones in placer deposits. The worlds largest deposit of Platinum is Meresnsky Reef, South Africa. In the U.S. Platinum has been found in Trinity Co., California, and small amounts occur in Rutherford and Burke Counties, North Carolina. Another U.S. locality is Cape Blanco, Curry Co., Oregon. Canada is a large producer of Platinum. The most notably of Canadian deposits is Beauce Co., Quebec. Platinum is also significantly mined in Alaska and Colombia. |
|
Picture Icon Links |
Sorry. No Images currently available. |
|
Picture Links | Sorry. No Images currently available. |
