Omaha daily bee., 1917-05-10
The Platinum Scarcity
By Frederic J. Haskin

Washington, May 7--Have you any jewelry
with platinum settings? II so, it is likely to be-
come your patriotic duty to turn It in to the gov
ernment for use in the making of munitions.
That is what the English have had to- do within
the last year, owing to the scarcity of the metal.
The supply is even lower now, but platinum, must
be had II we are to wage proper modern war.
Hence, it is up to US to take census of our rings,
scarfpins, brooches, pendants-even teeth--con-
tanning platinum, and get ready to present them to
the War department If the need arises
The military importance of platinum is due
to its use 10 the manufacture of sulphuric acid and
in the oxidation of ammonia to nitric acid Man
ufacturers Of high explosives cannot get along
without It. Chemical laboratories also require
it for hiany different processes. In commercial
channels its chief use is in dentistry and jewelfy,
and in certain electrical apparatus. Recent expert
ments have developed substitute metallic alloy
to take the place Of platinum in electrical work,
and It is thought that the same kind Of substis
tute will soon be perfected for dental work.
The platinum natural resources OF the United
States are small compared with those Of other
countries. According to James M Hill of the
United States geological survey, the production
of crude platinum in California and Oregon dur
ing 1915 was 74l.9l troy ounces, having a value
Of about $4,000" The greater part Of this was
produced In California, only one mine in Oregon
reporting prOQuCtlOH. All OF tn1S metal was re-
covered in placer mines worked primarily for
their gold content. "In general, the. crude plati-
mum of the western placers," says Mr. Hill, "is
found in relatively small scales OF fakes, some
larger than one-eighth Of an inch in diameter,
but the majority less than one-sixteenth inch,
many being under one-thrty-sixth inch"
In addition to the platinum obtained from
placer operations somewhat larger supply is
recovered in the electrolytic refining of gold bull
lion and blister copper. There are at least nine
copper refneries on the eastern coast of the
United States that recover platinum and metals
of the platinum group from blister copper, while
an equal number of plants are engaged in refn-
ing crude platinum and recovering the metal from
what are known as "sweepsss--left-overs from
dental establishments and jewelry stores, More
over, the United States mints are extensive reeov
erers of platinum. Large quantities are obtained
every year. from gold bullion, scrap metals and
sweepngs in the United States mint at San Fran
cisco, Denver and New York
But with all these sources the supply Of
platinum obtained in this country has never been
sufficient to meet the tremendous demand. The
two greatest sources of platinum are Russia and
Colombia, and the United States has always de.
pended upon these countries to make up the
deheit in its supply In 1915 Russias output
was estimated at loS2O2.95 troy ounces while
Colombia produced approximately $4,000 troy
ounces. AT the beginning Of the war, however, the
value Of platinum leaped upwards. In 1910 It sold
at $32.70 per troy ounce in the New York market;
in 1915 it was selling at $4o63 and the price has
been going up ever since. The European coun-
tries Immediately placed an embargo on the ex-
portation of platinum but in spite Of this, during
the first year OF the war the United States i'm
ported all but 10 per cent of its usual supply,
owing to the fact that the greater part Of the
metal was being used in the manufacture of ex-
plosives for the allies.
Since September, 1915, when the European
embargo, on the expectations of platinum became
effective, however, the scarcity of the metal in
this country has been acute. Dealers did not know
where they were going to obtain their next sup
plies; the jewelry and dental trades experienced
great difficulties in obtaining enough for ordinary
use and the situation became so desperate that
canvasses were even made OF the pawn shops to
obtain scrap pieces OF the metal. The importation
of practically the whole output Of Colombian
platinum did not relieve the situation. In England
conditions were just as bad. On January, g. 1916,
the ministry OF munitions determined to ascer-
tain the exact supply OF platinum In Great Britain
Jewellers were requested to supply within three
days 4 statement Showing quantity Of platinum
In bulk, platinum in process Of manufacture and
platinum finished articles"
II the present demand for platinum brings
about the development of substitutes for dental
work and jewelry il will not be without its favor
able aspects. If in turning in our platinum set
tings to the War department we also relinquish
our taste. for platinum jeweiry, grea. deal Of
good will be accomplished for the numerous
chemical industries throughout the country in
which the use of platinum is actually necessary
because no other metal will take Its place