El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-06-19
nations FIGHT
FOR PLATINUM
Was Once Thrown Away as
Waste, Is Now Worth
S105 an Ounce.


: once thrown away as waste but now
the most sought after metal in the
/ world. have been written since the
war began. Nations are fighting FOL
liL Women spies and diplomatic
I agents are playing the game Of inter
national intrigue TO control even an
I ounce Of the noble METAL as it Sc
I known TO biologists, so valuable hai
liz become and so necessary TO thu
/ prosecution Of the world war.
The United States government re.
Gently took a hand in the game b1
] communicating all unW0rked platl-
mum in this country, setting therefor
a price OF sos an ounce. as compared
with Sass ten years ago Even Llif
action, however. has not obtained sur
riclenr OF the metal for war purposes
Officials who failed 20 heed the
warnings Of platinum experts at tuf
[ beginning Of the war, are wondering
how they can retrieve their error lt
not vigorously meeting the nationa-
necessity by using every legitimate
means 20 obtain platinum For. me
total amount OF known platinum
throughout the world is only 1000
600 ounces, OF which about ole-f0urtf
is In the United States
Much o. that Isl virtually irreclainl-
personal 1eWelry, and the output
since the Russian debacle. has fauer
20 a fraction Of what 10 was in times
Of peace.
Russia BigEest Producer
II isl the last reason which is giv-
iuE tLllclals So much concern Russls
has been the source OF most OF tle
worlds platinum and lin 1913, Wai
credited with a production OF -50.l1t
Troy ounces Columbia with 1900,
New South Wales and Tasmania 1919.
United States California and oregon
being almost the only producing
statesj. only $50. Borneo and Sumatrs
200 and Canada so.
The German invasion OF Russia gave
the enemy the opportunity or replen-
ishing his stocks Of platinum, to The
derrfment OF the allies Mining ir
Russia virtually has ceased now. ever
II the metal could be shipped cut OF
the country and the world looks &C
Columbia for platinum.
Suggestions for a government mo-
nopoly Of platinum have been adj
vanced fiji the Columbian congress
Whatever action is taken. the for
tunes Of war win mean wealth for
the southern republic
History OF Rudium-
One Of the most spectacular Leats
OF the war was the concentration OF
1000 ounces OF platinum in Russia by
attached TO the embassy there. whC
recognized the Importance Of obtain
ing the metal
zach precious brick. wrapped fin
leather cover. was brought half way
across the world 20 the United States
and turned over 20 the government
for use in the manufacture OF sui
plCric acid. constituent OF eLplo-
sires, for the manufacture Of contact
points in electrical apparatus and
other uses necessary 90 war
An interesting history OF platinum
is given by the Latln-Americau divis-
ion Of the bureau OF foreign and do
nestle commerce
Platinum was discovered I'm what is
now Columbia in 1T35, bv q Spaniarl
named Don Antonio de Ulloa. who ac-
Compauied a French scientific eNuedf-
tion. and his account OF 10 was the
first Information regarding the metal
70 be brought 20 the attention O.
Europeans
Its resistabillty 20 acids and the p
difficulty Of working 10 were re-
marked upon. but 10 was NOT consid-
and was used at times by counter
feiters as a basis for coins.
To was not until the middle OF the
18th century that the demand for
platinum for use in chemical labora-
tories and for electrical uses brought
ranked as one Of the most precious
metals.
Was once Thrown Away.
In the placer mining Of gold in Co
lumbia. 70 was formerly thrown away
as waste. and when the rise fin price
made &c more valuable than gold the
ground on which the waste had been
thrown became in its turn a field for
mining operations. and even the
streets Of the principal center Of gold
refining iu Columbia. Quibdo.- were
torn Up and the soil washed for par
ticles % the new treasure.
One man tore down his store in or
der % get at the grouud underneath.
and found so much platinum that he
was enabled 20 rebuild and make an
extra $4,000 for his trouble
Platinum is recovered principally
from the beds Of streams. the particles
having been deposited there through
erosion o. large rocks. classified geo.
logically as tertiary conElomerates
The platinum grains are found with
gold, the proportion varying from 3
Co 80 percent Of platinum. The two
metals are recovered by washing the
sand and gravel OF streams
Mining Revived I'm Columbia.
The marked rise in the price OF
platinum i'm the last two or three
years has considerably stimulated
mining activities in Columbia. espe-
cialy on the part Of the native miners
Present imports % Columbian plate
mum by the United States represents
almost the total visible exports Of that
country.