Atomic Weight = 195.708

Platinum is the hardest of the precious metals. It never tarnishes. Its intense luster remains intact over the years and it is completely hypoallergenic.  The name originates from the Spanish word platina meaning 'little silver'. Platinum is the rarest of the precious metals.

Platinum was discovered by astronomers Antonio de Ulloa and Don Jorge Juan y Santacilia in 1735.  Charles Wood independently isolated the element in 1741.

Approximately 8 tons of raw ore must be mined to produce just one pure ounce of platinum. Roughly 90% of all platinum supplies come from South Africa and Russia. Virtually all of the platinum mined in South Africa is pre-sold to industrial users.

Anti-cancer drugs, LCD displays, gasoline, fiber optic cables, hard disk drives, fertilizers, explosives, eyeglasses, paints and pacemakers all rely on platinum. Platinum is also used in fuel cells, catalytic converters for automobiles, lab ware, crucibles, jet engine fuel nozzles, coating missile nose cones, and medical treatment for cancer.

Japanese consumers buy approximately 48% of the world's platinum jewelry each year.

Platinum is closely related to five other metals, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium, osmium, and iridium. Together these six metals are know as the Platinum group metals or PGMs.

Platinum's supply / demand fundamentals are tight. In fact, if platinum mining were to cease today, above ground reserves would last less than one year. In contrast, gold reserves would last nearly one quarter of a century. In contract with gold and silver, there are no large above-ground platinum stockpiles to fill the gap against significant disruptions.