Platinum

platinum

chromite

pyroxene

olivine

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Formula: Pt
Native element
There are six platinum group elements, iridium, osmium, palladium, platinum, rhodium and ruthenium. They often occur together, and are often alloyed with each other.
Crystal System: Isometric
Specific gravity: 14 to 19 measured, 21.472 calculated
Hardness: 4 to 4½;
Streak: Grey
Colour: Silver grey
Solubility: Insoluble in hydrochloric, sulphuric and nitric acid
Environments:

Sedimentary environments
Placer deposits
Hydrothermal environments

Most platinum occurs as the native metal in ultramafic rocks, especially dunite, associated with olivine, chromite, pyroxene and magnetite. It has been mined extensively in placers which are usually close to the platinum-bearing parent rock. It also occurs in quartz veins.

Platinum-bearing minerals include

Alloys
driekopite
hongshiite
isoferroplatinum
niggliite
rustenburgite
taimyrite
tatyanaite
tulameenite

Arsenides
sperrylite

Bismuthide
insizwaite

Sulphides
braggite
cooperite
malanite
platarsite

Tellurides
maslovite

Antimonides
genkinite

Tellurobismuthides
moncheite

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