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.
Platinum is used in catalytic converters, laboratory equipment, electrical contacts and electrodes, platinum resistance thermometers, dentistry equipment, and jewelry.
Jewelry factories that repair or produce platinum jewelry can be a great source of platinum scrap. Often, it can be found in floor dust, bench sweepings, and “squiggles” that are made when platinum is produced on machinery.
Answer. The simplest tests are heating and discoloration. If the item is heated, for example, in a Bunsen flame, platinum will be more difficult or impossible to melt and the platinum will not discolour. The effect of acid is another basic test.
Palladium is often used in cell phone and laptop components, and it's also found in ceramic capacitors having multiple layers. Due to the metal's high level of conductivity, manufacturers commonly include it in the connector plates of a variety of electronic products.
Palladium is used in catalytic converters for automobiles, in fuel cells to generate power, in jewelry, dental fillings, and electronic components. Catalytic converters convert the toxic gases from automobiles into less harmful substances.
According to the International Platinum Group Metals Association, in the electronics sector, most palladium is used for multi-layer ceramic (chip) capacitors (MLCC). MLCCs store energy in electronic devices such as broadcasting equipment, mobile telephones, computers, electronic lighting and high voltage circuits.
The Gonneville deposit is estimated to contain 10 million ounces of palladium, platinum and gold – collectively called 3E (three elements) – plus more than 900,000 tonnes of base metals.
Where can you find platinum? Geologically the platinum is generally found deep underground, mostly in nuggets or grains and is usually alloyed with other metals, such as gold, nickel and copper ores or mineral sperrylite. It is rare to find platinum on its own.
At this time, platinum in quantity is limited to a few localities. 80% of the world's current production comes from South Africa and the Sudbury Basin of Canada. Smaller reserves can be found in the United States, Zimbabwe and Australia.
A single platinum plug is much like a copper spark plug with a platinum disc welded to the center electrode; a double platinum spark plug has a platinum disc on both the center and side electrodes.
Platinum is silvery-white, but also shades into tin-white, silver-grey, steel grey and dark grey. It is noteworthy for its ductility, malleability, high density, and lack of chemical and temperature reactivity.
Platinum is also mined as an ore . Platinum ores such as sperrylite and cooperite may be mined when they are found in quantities that make extraction economically feasible. In other situations, platinum is obtained as a by-product when ores of other metals, such as copper and nickel, are refined.
Jewelry boxes and dresser drawers, where small, easy-to-overlook small pins, forgotten coins, and bits of jewelry can contain gold, silver and platinum. Kitchen drawers and storage areas, where pieces of silver tableware could be intermixed with other items.
The ordinary variety of native platinum is called polyxene; it is 80 percent to 90 percent platinum, with 3 percent to 11 percent iron, plus the other platinum metals, and gold, copper, and nickel.
RHODIUM. While the major use of rhodium (Rh) is in catalytic converters, 11% of production is used in glass-related applications, such as coatings for optic fibres and optical mirrors. Because it is also highly resistant to corrosion, it is used for thermocouple elements and crucibles.
Generally platinum is not magnetic. However, it depends on the platinum alloy: if the platinum is mixed with ruthenium, iridium or palladium then no, none of these are magnetic; if it's mixed with cobalt then yes, cobalt is magnetic so, theoretically, platinum can be attracted by a very powerful magnet.
Platinum is a very rare and expensive metal. Therefore, all platinum jewelry will be marked to show authenticity. Look for the words “Platinum," “PLAT," or “PT” followed or preceded by the numbers “950” or “999." These numbers refer to the purity of the platinum, with “999” as the most pure.
Platinum and osmiridium (an alloy of osmium and iridium) have been found in alluvial gold deposits at Turtons Creek, Stockyard Creek and Waratah Bay, all close to Foster in south Gippsland.
One of the biggest winner from the revival, which has seen palladium rise by 33% since April, is a small explorer which appears to have made Australia's first significant palladium discovery.
Platinum is a metal that's used in all kinds of products, from jewelry to electronics. It's also a very popular choice for kitchen appliances because it's durable, easy to clean, and has a high shine finish.
Palladium catalysts: Palladium can be found in automotive catalysts, industrial catalysts, palladium foil catalysts, petroleum refining catalysts.
Use a Magnet
Palladium isn't magnetic. If the piece you have is a forgery, it may contain iron. This is because iron is an inexpensive metal that's relatively easy to mold and shape. If your piece contains any amount of iron, it will react to a magnet.