Platinum

Primary Applications

Catalytic converters, chemical catalysts, jewelry, electronics, hydrogen technologies

Mining Significance

Platinum is a platinum-group metal (PGM) generally recovered from PGE-bearing magmatic sulfide deposits and layered mafic intrusions, commonly with palladium, rhodium, nickel, and copper. Platinum may occur in discrete PGM minerals or be associated with base-metal sulfides, making deportment studies important. Low grades and complex mineral associations typically require substantial concentration before refining and highly selective separation of individual PGMs.

Industries

None listed

Platinum

195.09

Key Properties

Dense, silvery-white noble metal with exceptional corrosion resistance.
Highly effective catalyst for oxidation, reduction, and hydrogen-related reactions.
High melting point and excellent thermal stability.
Malleable and ductile despite its high density.
Chemically resistant, allowing use in harsh industrial and laboratory environments.

Mining Targets

This element is often found in the following Deposit Types and Mineral targets.

Deposit Type: Magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE Sulfide - Magmatic sulfide deposits enriched in nickel, copper, and platinum-group elements (PGE) within mafic-ultramafic systems.

Mineral: Pentlandite - (Fe,Ni)₉S₈ - Pentlandite is part of the sulfide assemblage recovered to concentrate; platinum is commonly also present in discrete PGE minerals rather than being a major structural component of pentlandite.

Deposit Type: Magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE Sulfide - Magmatic sulfide deposits enriched in nickel, copper, and platinum-group elements (PGE) within mafic-ultramafic systems.

Mineral: Chalcopyrite - CuFeS₂ - Chalcopyrite is part of the sulfide assemblage recovered to concentrate; platinum is commonly also present in discrete PGE minerals rather than being a major structural component of chalcopyrite.

Deposit Type: Magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE Sulfide - Magmatic sulfide deposits enriched in nickel, copper, and platinum-group elements (PGE) within mafic-ultramafic systems.

Mineral: Pyrrhotite - Fe₁₋ₓS - Pyrrhotite is part of the sulfide assemblage recovered to concentrate; platinum is commonly also present in discrete PGE minerals rather than being a major structural component of pyrrhotite.