Among all noble metals, platinum occupies a special place and its value is higher in comparison with gold and silver. The fact is that the extraction of this substance is a rather laborious process, and it is not common. The higher cost of Platinum is at least due to the fact that about 10 tons of rock have to be processed to obtain one ounce. In turn, to create a similar amount of gold, about 3 tons of ore is spent.

Even before our era, people knew about the metal platinum, for example, the ancient Egyptians used it to make jewelry. It was widely used by the Indians of the Inca tribe, but was gradually forgotten. recent history mining and processing of platinum originates in the period of the development of America by the Spanish conquistadors.

However, at first, due attention was not paid to the metal, as evidenced even by its name - in Spanish, the word means “little silver”. Often it was considered unripe gold at all and was thrown away. It's a pretty tough metal., which has a high density index, which significantly complicates its processing.

But after the discovery of one unique ability, the situation changed - platinum and gold are easily alloyed. Jewelers were the first to take advantage of this feature, starting to add it to gold: jewelry made from a new alloy was distinguished by a lower cost. At the same time, the high density of the metal contributed to an increase in weight. finished product, but this was more than offset by the addition of silver, which did not affect the shade in any way.

For a long time, it was not possible to distinguish such jewelry from ordinary ones. When this nevertheless happened, then for some time even the import of platinum was banned in Europe. Platinum was recognized as an independent chemical element only in the 18th century, when scientists were able to carefully study the properties of the metal.

The first deposits of platinum in Russia were discovered near Yekaterinburg in 1819. Five years later, new deposits were found in the Nizhny Tagil district and they were so extensive that Russia short time occupied a leading position in the extraction of metal.

Physical and chemical properties

The opinion that platinum is white gold is still found among the townsfolk. In fact, it is an independent chemical element with unique properties. First, about how platinum is designated - Platinum or Pt. In the periodic table of chemical elements, it is one of the heaviest metals. He lost the palm only to osmium and iridium, which also belong to the substances of the platinum group.

Among the properties of the metal, it is worth noting the most unique:

• When heated to temperatures below 200 degrees, it is not subject to oxidation and does not enter into chemical interaction with other substances.
• Indicators of hardness and density are higher in comparison with gold and even more so with silver.
• Differs in high plasticity and well gives in to forging.
• It has excellent electrical conductivity.
• Does not interact with acids, except aqua regia.
• It has a high melting point of 1768.3 degrees.

The metal in its pure form is practically not found in nature, and if we talk about what platinum consists of, then most often it is alloys with rhodium, palladium, iron, iridium and some other substances.

The rate of oxidation depends on the pressure of oxygen and the rate of its supply to the metal surface. Since most often it is mined in the form of alloys, the presence of other substances in them slows down this process.

The most common oxides are:

The resistivity of platinum is relatively small, but in terms of electrical conductivity, it is inferior to aluminum, silver, and copper. At the same time, during heating, the resistivity index increases, and the conductivity decreases accordingly. Scientists explain this fact by the fact that as the temperature increases, the particles that make up platinum begin to move randomly and, as a result, the passage of current becomes difficult.

The industry actively uses the ability of platinum to accelerate various chemical reactions, which makes it an excellent catalyst.

Application area

In medicine, metal compounds, mainly amminoplastinates, are used in the treatment various forms oncological diseases. Cisplastin was the first such drug, but oxaliplatin and carboplatin are currently the most popular. The use of metal in technology is much wider. If we talk about where platinum is contained, the main directions can be noted:

From about the middle of the XVIII century in Russia, platinum performed a monetary function. Exactly the first platinum coins were made in the Russian Empire, but it happened in 1828. Currently, some states continue to mint coins of various denominations, but they are most often used for investment. It should also be said about the jewelry industry, which annually consumes about 50 tons of metal. Platinum jewelry is most popular in Japan.

“This metal from the beginning of the world until now has remained completely unknown, which is no doubt very surprising. Don Antonio de Ulloa, a Spanish mathematician who was in partnership with the French academicians sent from the king to Peru... is the first to mention her in the news of his travels, published in Madrid in 1748. Note that soon after the discovery of platinum, or white gold, they thought that it was not a special metal, but a mixture of two known metals. Glorious chemists considered this opinion, and their experiments destroyed it ... "
So it was said about platinum in 1790 on the pages of the "Shop of Natural History, Physics and Chemistry", published by the famous Russian educator N. I. Novikov.

Today platinum not only a precious metal, but - what is much more important - one of the important materials of the technical revolution. One of the organizers of the Soviet platinum industry, Professor Orest Evgenyevich Zvyagintsev, compared the value of platinum with the value of salt in cooking - you need a little, but without it you cannot cook dinner ...
The annual world production of platinum is less than 100 tons (in 1976 - about 90), but the most diverse areas of modern science, technology and industry cannot exist without platinum. It is indispensable in many critical units of modern machines and devices. It is one of the main catalysts of the modern chemical industry. Finally, the study of compounds of this metal is one of the main "branches" of modern chemistry of coordination (complex) compounds.

White gold

"White gold", "rotten gold", "frog gold"... Under these names, platinum appears in the literature of the 18th century. This metal has been known for a long time; its white heavy grains were found during gold mining. But they could not be processed in any way, and therefore for a long time platinum was not used.

Until the 18th century this most valuable metal, together with waste rock, was thrown into the dump, and in the Urals and Siberia, grains of native platinum were used as shot when shooting.
In Europe, platinum began to be studied from the middle of the 18th century, when the Spanish mathematician Antonio de Ulloa brought samples of this metal from gold deposits Peru.
Grains of white metal, which do not melt and do not split when struck on an anvil, he brought to Europe as a kind of funny phenomenon ... Then there were studies, there were disputes - whether platinum was a simple substance or "a mixture of two known metals - gold and iron", as he believed , for example, the famous naturalist Buffoy.
The first practical use of this metal was already in the middle of the 18th century. found counterfeiters.
At that time, platinum was valued at half the value of silver. And its density is high - about 21.5 g / cm 3, and it fuses well with gold and silver. Taking advantage of this, they began to mix platinum with gold and silver, first in jewelry, and then in coins. Having found out about this, the Spanish government announced the fight against platinum "damage". A royal decree was issued ordering the destruction of all platinum mined along with gold. In accordance with this decree, the officials of the mints in Santa Fe and Papaya (Spanish colonies in South America) solemnly, in front of numerous witnesses, periodically drowned the accumulated platinum in the Bogotá and Nauka rivers.
Only in 1778 this law was repealed, and the Spanish government, acquiring platinum at very low prices, began to mix it with the gold of the coins itself ... They adopted the experience!
It is believed that pure platinum was first obtained by the Englishman Watson in 1750. In 1752, after Schaeffer's research, it was recognized as a new element. In the 70s of the XVIII century. the first technical products from platinum (plates, wire, crucibles) were made. These products, of course, were imperfect. They were prepared by pressing sponge platinum under high heat. The Parisian jeweler Janpetit (1790) achieved high skill in the manufacture of platinum items for scientific purposes. He fused native platinum with arsenic in the presence of lime or alkali, and then burnt out the excess arsenic with strong calcination. The result was malleable metal suitable for further processing.
In the first decade of the XIX century. high-quality products from platinum were made by the English chemist and engineer Wollaston, the discoverer of rhodium and palladium. In 1808-1809. in France and England (almost simultaneously) platinum vessels were made almost a pood in weight. They were intended to produce concentrated sulfuric acid.
The appearance of such products and the discovery of the valuable properties of element No. 78 increased the demand for it, the price of platinum rose, and this, in turn, stimulated new research and searches.

Chemistry of Platinum #78

Platinum can be considered a typical element of group VIII. This heavy silver-white metal with a high melting point (1773.5 ° C), high malleability and good electrical conductivity was not without reason classified as noble. It does not corrode in most aggressive environments, it is not easy to enter into chemical reactions and with all its behavior it justifies the well-known saying of I. I. Chernyaev: "The chemistry of platinum is the chemistry of its complex compounds."
As befits an element of group VIII, platpa can exhibit several valences: 0, 2+, 3+, 4+, 5+, 6+ and 8+. But, when it comes to element No. 78 and its analogues, almost the same as valency, another characteristic is important - the coordination number. It means how many atoms (or groups of atoms), ligands, can be located around the central atom in the molecule of the complex compound. The most characteristic oxidation state of platinum in its complex compounds is 2+ and 4+; the coordination number in these cases is four or six, respectively. Complexes of bivalent platinum have a planar structure, while those of tetravalent platinum are octahedral.
In the schemes of complexes with a platinum atom in the middle, the letter A denotes ligands. Ligands can be various acid residues (Cl -, Br -, I -, N0 2, N03 -, CN -, C 2 04 ~, CNSH -), neutral molecules of simple and complex structure (H 2 0, NH 3, C 5 H 5 N, NH 2 OH, (CH 3) 2 S, C 2 H 5 SH) and many other inorganic and organic groups. Platinum can even form complexes in which all six ligands are different.
The chemistry of platinum complex compounds is varied and complex. Let's not burden the reader with significant details. Let's just say that in this complex area of ​​knowledge, Soviet science has invariably gone and is going ahead. Characteristic in this sense is the statement of the famous American chemist Chatt.
“Perhaps it was no coincidence that the only country that devoted much of its chemical research effort in the 1920s and 30s to the development of coordination chemistry was also the first country to send a rocket to the moon.”
Here it is appropriate to recall the statement of one of the founders of the Soviet platinum industry and science - Lev Aleksandrovich Chugaev: "Each precisely established fact concerning the chemistry of platinum metals will sooner or later have its practical equivalent."

Need for platinum

Over the past 20-25 years, the demand for platinum has increased several times and continues to grow. Before World War II, over 50% of platinum was used in jewelry. From alloys of platinum with gold, palladium, silver, copper, they made frames for diamonds, pearls, topaz ... Soft White color platinum settings enhance the play of the stone, it seems larger and more elegant than in a setting of gold or silver. However, the most valuable technical properties of platinum made its use in jewelry irrational.
Now about 90% of the consumed platinum is used in industry and science, the share of jewelers is much less. The reason for this is a complex of technically valuable properties of element No. 78.
Acid resistance, heat resistance and stability of properties upon ignition have long made platinum indispensable in the manufacture of laboratory equipment. “Without platinum,” Justus Liebig wrote in the middle of the last century, “it would be impossible in many cases to analyze the mineral ... the composition of most minerals would remain unknown.” Platinum is used to make crucibles, cups, glasses, spoons, spatulas, spatulas, tips, filters, and electrodes. Rocks are decomposed in platinum crucibles - most often by fusing them with soda or treating them with hydrofluoric acid. Platinum glassware is used for particularly precise and responsible analytical operations...
The most important areas of application of platinum were the chemical and oil refining industries. About half of all platinum consumed is now used as catalysts for various reactions.
Platinum is the best catalyst for ammonia oxidation reaction to nitric oxide NO in one of the main processes for the production of nitric acid. The catalyst here appears in the form of a grid of platinum wire with a diameter of 0.05-0.09 mm. The rhodium additive (5-10%) was introduced into the mesh material. A ternary alloy of -93% Pt, 3% Rh and 4% Pd is also used. The addition of rhodium to platinum increases the mechanical strength and increases the service life of the weave, while palladium slightly reduces the cost of the catalyst and slightly (by 1-2%) increases its activity. The service life of platinum nets is a year and a half. After that, the old grids are sent to the refinery for regeneration and new ones are installed. The production of nitric acid consumes significant amounts of platinum.
Platinum catalysts accelerate many other practically important reactions: hydrogenation of fats, cyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons, olefins, aldehydes, acetylene, ketones, oxidation of S0 2 to S0 3 in sulfuric acid production. They are also used in the synthesis of vitamins and some pharmaceuticals. It is known that in 1974 about 7.5 tons of platinum was spent for the needs of the chemical industry in the USA.

Equally important are platinum catalysts in the oil refining industry. With their help, high-octane gasoline, aromatic hydrocarbons and industrial hydrogen are obtained from gasoline and naphtha oil fractions at catalytic reforming units. Here, platinum is usually used in the form of a finely dispersed powder deposited on alumina, ceramics, clay, and coal. Other catalysts (aluminum, molybdenum) also work in this industry, but platinum ones have undeniable advantages: high activity and durability, high efficiency. The US oil refining industry purchased in 1974 about 4 tons of platinum.
Another major consumer of platinum has become the automotive industry, which, oddly enough, also uses the catalytic properties of this metal - for afterburning and neutralizing exhaust gases.
For these purposes, the US automobile industry purchased 7.5 tons of platinum in 1974 - almost as much as the chemical and oil refining industries combined.
The fourth and fifth largest buyers of platinum in 1974 in the US were the electrical and glass industries.
The stability of the electrical, thermoelectric and mechanical properties of platinum plus the highest corrosion and thermal resistance have made this metal indispensable for modern electrical engineering, automation and telemechanics, radio engineering, and precision instrumentation. Platinum is used to make fuel cell electrodes. Such elements are used, for example, on spaceships Apollo series.
An alloy of platinum with 5-10% rhodium is used to make spinnerets for the production of glass fiber. Optical glass is melted in platinum crucibles when it is especially important not to disturb the recipe at all.
In chemical engineering, platinum and its alloys serve as excellent corrosion-resistant materials. Equipment for the production of many highly pure substances and various fluorine-containing compounds is coated with platinum from the inside, and sometimes entirely made of it.
A very small part of platinum goes to the medical industry. Surgical instruments are made from platinum and its alloys, which, without being oxidized, are sterilized in the flame of an alcohol burner; this advantage is especially valuable when working in the field. Alloys of platinum with palladium, silver, copper, zinc, nickel are also an excellent material for dentures.
The demand of science and technology for platinum is constantly growing and is not always satisfied. Further study of the properties of platinum will further expand the scope and possibilities of this most valuable metal.

"SILVER"? The modern name of element No. 78 comes from the Spanish word plata - silver. The name "platinum" can be translated as "silver" or "silver".
STANDARD KILOGRAM. From an alloy of platinum with iridium in our country, a kilogram standard was made, which is a straight cylinder with a diameter of 39 mm and a height of 39 mm. It is stored in Leningrad, at the All-Union Scientific Research Institute of Metrology named after V.I. D. I. Mendeleev. It used to be a standard and a platinum-iridium meter.
PLATINUM MINERALS. Raw platinum is a mixture of various platinum minerals. The mineral polyxene contains 80-88% Pt and 9-10% Her; cuproplatia - 65-73% Pt, 12-17% Fe and 7.7-14% Cu; nickel platinum, along with element No. 78, includes iron, copper and nickel. Natural alloys of platinum with only palladium or only with iridium are also known - there are traces of other platinoids. There are also a few minerals - compounds of platinum with sulfur, arsenic, antimony. These include sperrylite PtAs 2 , cooperite PtS, braggite (Pt, Pd, Ni)S.
THE BIGGEST. The largest platinum nuggets displayed at the exhibition of the Diamond Fund of Russia weigh 5918.4 and 7860.5 g.
PLATINUM BLACK. Platinum black is a finely dispersed powder (grain size 25-40 microns) of metallic platinum, which has a high catalytic activity. It is obtained by acting with formaldehyde or other reducing agents on a solution of complex hexachloroplatinic acid H 2 [PtCl 6 ].
FROM THE "CHEMICAL DICTIONARY", PUBLISHED IN 1812. "Professor Snyadetsky in Vilna discovered a new metal creature in platinum, which he called the Beast"...
“Fourcroix read an essay at the Institute, in which he announces that platinum contains iron, titanium, chromium, copper and a metallic being, hitherto unknown” ...
“Gold combines well with platinum, but when the amount of this latter exceeds 1/47, then gold turns white, without significantly increasing its weight and malleability. The Spanish government, fearing this composition, banned the release of platinum, because they did not know the means to prove the forgery "...

FEATURES OF PLATINUM WARE. It would seem that platinum dishes in the laboratory are suitable for all occasions, but this is not so. No matter how noble this heavy precious metal, when handling it, it should be remembered that at high temperatures platinum becomes sensitive to many substances and influences. It is impossible, for example, to heat platinum crucibles in a reducing and especially sooty flame: red-hot platinum dissolves carbon and becomes brittle because of this. Metals do not melt in platinum dishes: relatively low-melting alloys may form and precious platinum may be lost. It is also impossible to melt metal peroxides, caustic alkalis, sulfides, sulfites and thiosulfates in platinum dishes: sulfur for red-hot platinum is a certain danger, just like phosphorus, silicon, arsenic, antimony, elemental boron. But boron compounds, on the contrary, are useful for platinum dishes. If it is necessary to clean it properly, then a mixture of equal amounts of KBF 4 and H 3 BO 3 is melted in it. Usually, for cleaning, platinum dishes are boiled with concentrated hydrochloric or nitric acid.

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The most valuable of metals

The history of the discovery of metal sends us back several thousand years. Opinions are divided about when platinum was discovered. Some scholars argue that this metal was known and actively used by such ancient civilizations as the Incas, Aztecs and Maya tribes. However, these civilizations existed so long ago that there is no reliable data on this.

The version of other researchers sounds more likely. Platinum was discovered by man in the 18th century in South America. At that time, people did not know its enormous value and treated platinum with disdain. Because of its resemblance to silver and because of the inability to melt it.

Today, the value of platinum is well known to man. According to the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, the price of platinum is 1,743.75 rubles per gram.

The chemical composition of platinum

In its pure form, like other precious metals, platinum is rare. The most common are nuggets, in which most (80% -88%) is platinum, and the rest is iron. This variety is called polyxene. There are also varieties containing nickel (about 3% nickel), palladium (from 7% to 40% palladium), iridium, rhodium (up to 5% rhodium).

In the periodic table it is called Platina, has the designation Pt. Group - 10, period - 6, atomic number - 78, atomic mass– 195.084 g/mol. Platinum does not interact with most elements. However, under the influence of high temperatures, the reaction may occur.

Platinum reacts with:

• "royal vodka" - dissolves in it at the usual temperature;
• sulfuric acid - dissolves in concentrate, at elevated temperatures;
• liquid bromine - dissolves in concentrate, at elevated temperatures;

When exposed to high temperatures:

• alkalis;
• sodium peroxide;
• halogens;
• sulfur;
• carbon (forms a solid solution);
• selenium;
• silicon (forms a solid solution);
• oxygen (forms volatile oxides).

Metal is a good catalyst. As a catalyst, it is indispensable in industry.

Has a cubic face-centered crystal lattice

In the free state, the metal is a monatomic molecule

Physical Properties

In nature, it is most often found in the form of gray-white nuggets ranging in size from small grains to stones weighing 8 kg.

Main physical characteristics:

• ρ = 21.09-21.45 g/cm3;
• Melting point - 1768.3 ᵒС;
• Boiling point - 3825 ᵒС;
• Thermal conductivity - 71.6 W / m × K;
• Hardness on the Mohs scale - 3.5.

Platinum without impurities is a diamagnet. However, more often in nature it occurs in the form of polyxene, which is magnetized. It has high electrical conductivity and ductility (ductility and ductility).

The metal is most actively used in the chemical industry. Due to its ductility and electrical conductivity, it is suitable for the manufacture of sulfuric acid, as well as laboratory chemical glassware, which is subjected to high temperatures.

The metal is widely used in the electrical industry, if necessary, plating, as a coating of various elements of electrical devices.

Platinum as a catalyst is indispensable in the oil refining industry.

In addition, the value of the metal is great in the automotive, glass, monetary industries, in jewelry, medicine (especially in dentistry).

Platinum mining

The championship in the extraction of the precious metal belongs to Russia, South Africa, Canada, the USA, Colombia. Annual production is 36 tons of metal.

The Americans were the first to mine platinum. Russia discovered platinum much later, in 1819 in the Urals. Subsequently, several more deposits of valuable metal were discovered. Already in 1828, production in Russia was 1.5 tons. That significantly exceeded the results of South America. At the end of the 19th century, Russia became the undisputed leader and received 40 times more valuable metal than all other countries.

The current leader is South Africa. Russia is in second place and produces about 25 tons per year. The world reserves of platinum today amount to approximately 80 thousand tons and are divided between South Africa, Russia and America.

artificial platinum

Platinum is considered a rare, precious metal. Its extraction and subsequent rather complicated and time-consuming process. Nevertheless, it is widely used in almost all areas of industry and human life. Its price is quite high and the decrease is not expected. The demand for the metal is growing, and its quantity in nature is only decreasing. In order to make the metal more accessible and somewhat reduce its cost, the World Investment Council decided to artificially synthesize this metal. The Russian scientific center "Synthestech" also takes an active part in this issue. For the production of artificial platinum, the cold transmutation method is used.

Platinum is a rare and sought-after precious metal that has a number of unique properties. Translated from Spanish, the word "fee" means small silver, some say "silver", this metal got its name because of its grayish-white hue.

Platinum has a high density, making it one of the heaviest precious metals. A product made of platinum weighs twice as much as silver. A platinum cube with an edge length of 300 mm would have a weight equal to 0.5 tons.

Platinum is a fairly ductile material. From a small piece of platinum, weighing only 30g, you can get a very thin wire, which could be used to connect the German city of Cologne and the Russian capital Moscow.

Platinum does not undergo oxidation and corrosion, having chemical resistance, it practically does not dissolve in alkalis and acids. "Aqua regia", prolonged exposure to sulfuric acid and liquid bromine can dissolve platinum.

Platinum has several other good qualities - it is hardness and refractoriness, which makes platinum products resistant to abrasion and resistant to high temperatures. The melting point of "silver" is 18430 ° C, and the boiling point is 3890 ° C.

Platinum compounds in nature

V earth's crust little platinum. In its pure form, platinum is quite rare. Most often it is found in conjunction with rare metals such as iridium. Other metals belonging to the platinum group (ruthenium, osmium and rhodium) can be found in small concentrations. There is also platinum in the form of compounds with copper, iron, chromium and nickel, as well as silver.

Platinum in the ore is represented by small grains or inclusions. Especially large nuggets have not been found in nature.

Scope and history of development of platinum

The first deposits of platinum were found in South America in the 18th century.

For a long time, platinum did not arouse interest among Europeans. Its price was low.

Later, knowing unique properties platinum, people began to use it more often. All this led to an increase in prices for the precious metal.

In the earth's crust, platinum is found in small quantities. Therefore, its price is high. So a platinum cube with a 300mm edge length has a market value of $2.0 million.

Platinum in the jewelry industry

Among jewelers, platinum is rightfully considered the queen of precious metals.

Today, platinum jewelry is a symbol of confidence and solidity.

Today, platinum is used both as a piece of jewelry and as a reliable investment project.

The high strength of the metal increases the demand for its production. Platinum engagement rings are the most sought after jewelry. They don't wear out. Their prolonged wearing rarely causes an allergic reaction.

The cost of a gram of platinum ranges from 3.5 to 4.5 thousand rubles.

Along with the jewelry area, platinum is indispensable in the production of high-precision electronic equipment and equipment used in scientific research. Platinum is indispensable in instruments designed for precise measurements.

How many women, trying on another piece of jewelry on their finger, know that the dull shimmer of platinum that attracts them is news from outer space? What way did you go before winning the hearts of lovers of beauty and luxury? Let's talk about the history and properties of the amazing platinum, which has become a source of inspiration for such legendary jewelers as Cartier, Tiffany and Faberge.

Noble or precious metals

It is known that metals are different. Most often we hear about black, colored and noble. The latter include only eight elements - gold, silver, platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, ruthenium and osmium. They do not oxidize, are resistant to environmental influences, have plasticity and easily form alloys. But not all of them are safe for humans.

For the manufacture of jewelry only gold, silver, palladium and platinum are used, which is the most expensive of the four. But these metals are rarely used in their pure form. Their concentration in your favorite product can be found by looking at the sample. Let's figure out what 950° platinum is. This means that for 1 kg of jewelry alloy there are 950 grams of precious metal, the rest is alloying components. Platinum is the most durable jewelry metal. without alloying alloys, even it will not have high wear resistance.

Platinum or white gold?

Quite often you can hear that platinum is white gold. This is not true. Their composition and properties are different. Let's answer the question about what platinum and white gold are. To do this, let's look at the periodic table. At number 078 there is an element Pt. Now it is clear what platinum is - a metal in its purest form. And white gold is a jewelry ploy, when by adding silver, nickel or other impurities it is leveled yellow. Its highest standard is 750.

However, thanks to the popularity of white gold, platinum products have found their fans and are back in fashion. And although they are much more expensive, the strength of this metal makes it indispensable for wedding rings, as well as jewelry with stones, the durability of which depends on the reliability of the frame. By the way, another advantage of platinum is that it does not cause allergies, as is often the case with white gold due to additional components.

All of the above, of course, affects the cost, but the main thing is the method of extraction.

Earth history and precious metals

A few years ago, German scientists, having discovered in Pt (078), thought about what platinum is and how it appeared on Earth. According to researchers from the University of Mainz, there were no natural conditions for the formation of metals on our planet. If their homeland is the Earth, then they must be in the molten core, and not in the upper part of the crust.

Physicist Gerhardt Schmidt believes that metals were brought to us about 4 billion years ago, when the Earth was attacked by meteorites consisting of iron. The most ancient heavenly messenger, rich in platinum, has been recorded, which fell to Earth about 2 million years ago. According to the calculations of scientists, for the formation of metals on the planet in the existing amount, it took an average of 160 cosmic bodies with a diameter of about 20 km.

It can be concluded that the resource is rather limited. It is because of this that the price only increases every year.

Deposits and mining of platinum

Deposits of platinum ore are determined by the accompanying rocks. It is found both in pure form and in compounds, for example, with nickel or gold. Ore formations are both primary and alluvial. The latter are especially difficult to harvest. In Russia, at the time of the discovery of metal, work on placers was considered hellish, although the first machine installations were invented quite quickly.

Although today the technique of geological mining has been simplified, nevertheless, platinum remains expensive to produce. To get it (this is about 31 grams), it is necessary to process more than 10 tons of raw ore.

The main country in which large deposits of platinum have been discovered is South Africa. About 151 tons of metal are mined here annually. In second place is Russia, producing approximately 26 tons of platinum. This is followed by Zimbabwe, the US and Canada, producing 9 to 5 tons per year. Platinum is also found in the lands of Japan, Australia and Colombia. By and large, it is in almost every country, but it does not make sense to extract it on an industrial scale.

Interestingly, the Urals is the cradle of the two largest platinum nuggets in the world. Their weight is 5918.4 and 7860.5 g. Now we have roughly figured out what platinum is. Photos of products from this metal can be found in the article.

Ancient civilizations and the use of platinum

The first gold items with traces of platinum are found by modern scientists in Egyptian burials dated to around 1200 BC. e. Documentary tablets already made entirely of this precious metal appear around 700 BC. e. In the South American Inca civilization, ceremonial artifacts were made from both yellow and white metals.

An unlucky find - neither gold nor silver

Acquaintance of Europeans with refractory metal occurred in 1590 in South America. What is platinum at that time? Just rotten gold. The Spanish conquistadors were so disappointed with the find that they called it "silver". Having found grayish plates in gold placers, they considered that platinum is an impurity that spoils the brilliance of the prey and is absolutely unsuitable due to the complexity of processing and dullness. So they called her - Plata, which means "silver", with a diminutive-scornful ending ina. When platinum fell into the hands of the conquerors of new lands, they simply threw it into the sea.

Conquest of Europe

In 1700, a silver element was discovered off the coast of Europe. He became the subject of study by alchemists who wanted to figure out what platinum is. They did experiments trying to determine its properties and turn it into gold. In 1751, the Swedish scientist Theophil Scheffer identified platinum as a magnificent metal. And in 1780, King Louis XVI of France declared it as intended only for crowned persons.

His jeweler Mark Etienne Janety created several unsurpassed luxury items from platinum, including a beautiful sugar bowl with intricate ornamentation. In 1788, Francisco Alonso created a candlestick 30 cm high, commissioned by the Spanish King Carlos III, intended as a gift to the Pope. This was made possible by the discoveries in platinum forging by Pierre Francois Chabol and Joseph Louis Proust. Thus the French established a new age of luxury in Spain. Its pinnacle is the Platinum Room in Arganese, whose doors are open to all comers even today.

But the most indisputable fact of the conquest of Europe by gray metal is its use in the creation of measurement system standards. In 1799, Marc Etienne Janetti, who had left Paris after the French Revolution, was invited to create the platinum meter and kilogram. To this day they are stored in the International Bureau of Weights and Measures.

Platinum wealth of Russia

The discovery of expensive ore in Russia, in the Urals, occurred much later - at the beginning of the 19th century. By that time, platinum had already conquered Europe and was considered the "royal" metal. Its deposits ended up in the lands belonging to the Demidov family, who, thanks to their wealth, were already considered the secret masters of the Empire. The “discoverers” of the deposit were serfs Efim Kopylov and Emelyan Rostigaev.

Placers of large grains of metal were only slightly covered by a vegetative layer. Later a short time already thousands of Demidov's serfs worked on the "underground", processing almost by hand about 40 tons of platinum rocks. It is said that the largest of the mined nuggets weighed about 9 kg, but there is no reliable evidence for this.

Platinum in the hands of jewelers

So, by the end of the 19th century, platinum was a metal for the elite, climbing Mount Olympus because of its rarity and resistance to mechanical stress. It attracts lovers of glitz and chic also thanks to the purity of use - today it is the 950th test.

The main promoter of platinum in the jewelry world is Louis-Francois Cartier, the founder of the notorious Cartier company. He considered it an indispensable material with limitless possibilities, thanks to its flexibility and reliability. Inspired by love for Jeanne Toussaint, the iconic panther look is crafted in platinum with sapphires and diamonds.

However, he is not the only one who appreciated the merits of the silvery material. Its main competitor at the time was one that also used platinum in designer pieces. By the way, many floral arrangements and animal motifs were borrowed by Louis Cartier from Faberge.

Interest in platinum grew steadily, reaching a peak at the beginning of the 20th century, and did not subside until the Second World War. A lot of this success was facilitated by royalty and "stars" of Hollywood.

"Platinum" disease from platinum blondes

In America in the 1930s, for ordinary people, the remedy for the anxieties and disappointments caused by the Great Depression was cinema. Hundreds of films about the careless rich and their companions appeared on the screens. The icon of the time was Jean Harlow, shining in Frank Capra's Platinum Blonde. A bright beauty, luxurious and funny, attracted both men and women with an easy attitude to life. like other Hollywood actresses, forms new style chic. Diamonds set in platinum become his constant accessory. And the final touch to the image - trendy color hair. Which? Of course, platinum.

More than a hundred years have passed, and we are seeing a return of love for this precious metal. The world needs beauty, sophistication and strength. Now we know everything about what platinum is. The pictures in the article clearly demonstrate the luxury and attractive appearance of this precious metal.