Weekly journal-miner., 1918-06-26
PLATINUM ONCE CONSIDERED
 VALUELESS
R A R E METAL IS NOW WORTH NEARLY 5 TIMES AS MUCH AS GOLD AND RUSSIA CONTROLS THE BULK OF THE SUPPLY.


 world, have been written since the war began. Nations are fighting for 1t. AdventurerS are risking their lives to obtain it. Women spies and diplomatic agents are playing the game of international intrigue to con trol even an ounce of the noble metal" as ii is known to geologists, so valuable has it become and so necessary to the prosecution of the world war
 The United States government. re- gently took hand in the game: by communicating all unworked plati- mum in this country, setting therefor a price of Sl05 an ounce, as com pared with S22S5 ten years ago Even this action, however, has not obtained sufficient of the metal for war pur- poses. Officials who failed to heed the warnings of platinum experts at the beginning of the war are wonder ing how they can retrieve their error III not vigorously meeting the na- tional necessity by using every legi- innate means to obtain platinum. For, the total amount of known plati- mum throughout the world is only 100000 ounces, of which about one fourth Is in the United States. Much Of that is virtually irreclaimable through use in dental work and per sonal jcwclry, and the output, since the Russian debacle, has fallen to a fraction of what IS was in times of peace.
 It IS the last reason which is giv- ing officials so much concern. Rus Sia has been the source of most of the worlds platinum and, in 1913 was credited with a production of 250.OOO Troy ounces. Colombia with l5.0O0. New South Wales and Tas- mania 1,275, United States (Califor- nia and Oregon being almost the only producing statcs) only 4S3, Bor- neo and Sumartra 200 and Canada 50 The German invasion of Russia gave the enemy the opportunity of replenishing his stocks of platinum 10 the detrimcnt of the Allies. Min ing in Russia virtually l-has ceased now, even if the metal could be shipped out of the country, and the world looks 10 Colombia for plati- mum. Suggestions for a government monopoly Of platinum have been ad- vanccd in the Colombian congress. Whatever action Is taken. the for tunes of war will mean wealth for the southern republic.
 One of the most spectacular feats of the war was the concentration oi 20.000 ounces of platinum in Russia by young American mining engi neer. attached to the embassy there who recognized the importance O. obtaining the metal Each precious brick, wrapped in a leather cover was brought halfway across tho world to the United States and turned over to the government for use II the manufacture of sulphuric acid, constituent of explosives, for tht manufacture of contact points in cleo trical apparatus and other uses neccS | sary to war. An interesting history | oi platinum is given by the Latin | American Division of the Bureau O Foreign and Domestic Commerce.
 Platinum was discovered in wha' | is now Colombia in lz35, by Span iard named Don Antonio de Ulloa | who accompanied a French scientif, l expedition. and his account of it wa the first information regarding tn, | metal to be brought to the attention | of Europeans. Its rcSiStability tC | acids and the difficulty Of working were remarked upon, but it was no considered to be nearly as preciou as gold. and was used at times b, CounterfciterS as a basis for coins | T.. T.. nineteenth century that the demand for platinum for use in chemical lab oratoricS and for electrical use brought its value up to the poin where 1t ranked as one of the mos' precious metals.
 In the placer mining of gold il Colombia 1t was formerly throwr away as waste, and when the rise il price made 1t more valuable thar gold the ground on which the vast, had been thrown became in its tur; a field for mining operations, and ever the streets of the principal center gold refining in Colombia, Quibdo were torn up and the soil washed foi | particles of the new treasure. Ont man tore down his store in order to S~Ol dl tue SlOuHu beneath, ana fOUnt | so much platinum that he was en. ablcd to rebuild and make an extr; S40OO for bis trouble.
 Platinum is recovered principally from the beds of streams, the par ticles having been deposited there through erosion of large rocks. clas- sihed gcologically as Tertiary con The platinum grains are found with gold, the proportion varying from to 30 per cent Of platinum. The two metals are re- covered by washing the sand ana gravel of streams.
 The market rise in the price O platinum in the last two or three years has considerably stimulated : mining activities in Colombia. cspec- [ tally on the part of the native miners.
 Present imports of Colombian plati- mum by the United States represents , almost the total visible exports of that country. ' LEADS STATE
 IN SALE OF STAMpSl .