Platinum
Platinum (Pt) is the most expensive and rarest precious metal. It is far rarer than gold and because of this it is not readily available to collectors.
Platinum in its natural state is impure as it is usually associated with nickel, copper, gold, iron or other such elements. It can also contain palladium, rhodium, osmium, iridium or other rare metals. Impurities such as these tend to lower the specific gravity of platinum by as much as 14 where in its pure form platinum has a specific gravity of 21.4. The most common impurity is traces of iron that often causes platinum to be attracted to magnetic fields.
Gem collectors prize platinum as being very valuable as a rare gem stone and as it is rarer than gold it is not readily available to general collectors but limited to high end mineral collectors only. As a precious metal in jewellery it is used as ring settings, necklaces and bracelets. As jewellery it is durable, beautiful and rare and therefore very highly regarded. Platinum crystals are cubic, usually with rounded corners and quite often rather distorted. They may also form penetration twins that often occur as water-worn nuggets containing small holes. Some samples may also tend to be flakey. Platinum, although opaque, can be found in many colours, the most usual being dark grey, steel grey, silver grey or tin white.
Platinum has many uses in industry, some of these are as follows:
- Catalytic converters in motor cars as an anti-pollution device
- Dental fillings and dentistry equipment
- Numerous laboratory equipment
- Electrical contacts
- Electrodes
- Thermometers
Platinum is highly valued in industry because of its excellent resistance to high temperature and corrosion as well as for its stable electrical properties. It is also the most ductile of all the pure metals such as copper, silver or gold, although gold is more malleable than platinum. Platinum does not oxidise at any temperature.
Pre-Columbian Americans used platinum to make artifacts of a white-gold alloy, although the first European recognition of the metal didn't appear until 1557 when it was described as a 'noble metal found between Darien and Mexico which no fire nor Spanish artifice has been able to liquefy.'
Platinum is obtained commercially as a by-product from the mining and processing of copper and nickel. When electro-refining copper, metals such as platinum, silver and gold settle to the bottom among what is termed 'anode mud.' It is from this substance that platinum is extracted.
Only a few hundred tonnes of platinum are produced throughout the world each year. In 2010, 245 tonnes of platinum was sold globally, 113 tonnes were used in the production of motor vehicle catalytic converters, 76 tonnes as jewellery and 35.5 tonnes for the production of electrodes, spark plugs, oxygen sensors, turbine engines and anti cancer drugs. In 2012 Australia produced 706 kilograms and this was all produced from nickel sulphide deposits in the Yilgarn Craton of Western
Australia. Platinum nugets have also been discovered in the Kennedy and Cunningham Counties in the Fifield District of New South Wales.
As platinum is a heavy metal it can lead to health issues when exposed to its salts. However, because of its resistance to corrosion, it is not regarded as being as toxic as other metals. Compounds containing platinum, such as cisplatin are used in chemotherapy in the fight against certain types of cancer.
Australian Mines that produce Bauxite
Gove (NT)
Up to 600 workers employed at the Gove bauxite refinery in the Northern Territory face an uncertain future as Pacific Aluminium suspends alumina production.
Ely (QLD)
The Ely Alcan Queensland Pty Ltd agreement at the Weipa bauxite mine is due to expire in 2041 but an option will give it a further 21 years extension.
Skardon River (QLD)
Gulf Alumina acquired 100 percent of the Skardon River tenement in 2011 from its koalin mining joint partner to develop the mining of bauxite at the site
Weipa (QLD)
The Weipa bauxite mine on the western side of the Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland is both owned and operated by Rio Tinto Alcan.
Huntly (WA)
The Huntly mine in Western Australia is the largest bauxite mine in the world currently producing about 23 million tonnes of bauxite annually.
Willowdale (WA)
The Willowdale bauxite mine that commenced production in 1984 still processes 10 million tonnes of bauxite a year at the nearby Wagerup Refinery.
Worsley (WA)
The Worsley bauxite mine and alumina refinery in South West Western Australia employs more than 1,800 people and produces 4.6 million tonnes of alumina annually.
South Aurukun (QLD)
The South Aurukun bauxite tenements on the Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland are held by Gulf Alumina.
Marchinbar Island (NSW)
The Marchinbar Island bauxite deposit in far north Northern Territory could be mined to satisfy a growing demand from China in the near future.
Kwinana Refinery (WA)
The Kwinana refinery in WA employs around 1,000 direct employees with 60 percent living in the nearby towns of Rockingham, Cockburn and Kwinana.
Wagerup Refinery (WA)
The Alcoa owned Wagerup alumina refinery in W.A. has received governmental approval to lift alumina production from 2.6 to 2.65 million tonnes annually.
Pinjarra Alumina Refinery (WA)
The Pinjarra alumina refinery, near Mandurah south of Perth, is an important part of Alcoa's three refinery system in Western Australia.
Portland Aluminium Smelter (VIC)
The Portland Aluminium smelter in western Victoria, a joint venture operation between Alcoa, CITIC and Marubeni, caters solely to the Asian market.
Felicitas (WA)
The Felicitas bauxite project in Western Australia contains a bauxite resource of 220 million tonnes that will give it a life of mine of 25 years
South Of Embley (QLD)
Despite Rio Tinto placing its South of Embley bauxite project in Cape York, Queensland, on hold for 18 months it still considers it a 'good project.'
Bauxite Hills (QLD)
The Bauxite Hills Project on the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland is hoping to take advantage of an expected increase in the demand for Alumina.
Bald Hill (TAS)
Australian Bauxite Limited's Bald Hill mine, in Tasmania, is to start production in December, 2014. It is the first new bauxite mine in Australia, for over 35 years.
Urquhart Point (QLD)
The Urquhart Point Heavy Mineral Sands Project in Cape York in Far North Queensland is expected to begin production in mid-2015.
Amrun (QLD)
The Amrun bauxite project in far north Queensland, that was previously known as the 'South of Embley' project has been approved for development and expected to be in production by 2019.
