Smyrna times., 1932-09-14
PLATINUM FOUND
IN NEW FIELDS
Metal Is Now Worth Twice
as Much as Gold and
In Demand
ARISTOCRATIC METAL

plating are among the most recent
developments of the industry.
platinum is one of the aristO-
Gratis of metals" says a bulletin
from the National Geographic So
ciety.
"a pound of platinum is worth
more than two pounds of gold, but
6 little platinum goes a long way.
Normally, about six tons is re-
quired annually to supply a metal
hungry world The metal can be
rolled and beaten into leaf one
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of an inch
thick. A cubic inch can be drawn
into an almost invisible wire that
could be wound twice around the
world at the Equator.
Because it is costly and may be
artistically patterned, more than
half of the worlds supply of plati-
mum is sold over the jewelry coun-
ter. The modern jewelers. show
cases display platinum rings and
rings of other metals with platinum
settings for precious stones, plati-
mum and platinum-plated watch
cases enclosing works with plati-
mum pivots, rouge and powder
boxes, pins, vases, flower and fruit
bowls. various ornaments, and
tableware.
Speeds Communication.
platinum often does its best
work beyond the vision of the av-
erage layman. AS part of radio
tube, it aids modern entertain
ments; in telegraph and telephone
instruments, it improves and
speeds modern communication. In
the electrical apparatus Of auto
mobiles, motor trucks, railroad
trains, ships and airplanes, it con-
tributes to modern transportation
and business.
Dentists use platinum-plated pins
to secure pivot teeth; the metal
aids construction engineers in
blasting distractions for new prof
ects: the surgeon uses 4 gold, plati-
num-tipped needle to sew wounds;
platinum used in connection with
X-ray apparatus aids the psysician
in diagnosing human ills. 1t helps
produce the farmers fertilizer; It
also is a valuable tool Of the rayon
manufacturer.
Because platinum has a high
melting point and is not affected by
contact with most acids, it is one
of the mainstays of the chemical
laboratory where platinum cruci-
bles, pans, strainers and furnace
parts are extensively used. One Of
its chief laboratory uses, however,
is as a sort of middle man. or
catalyzer. When placed in certain
solutions, platinum makes the sOlu-
tions change their natures, vet the
metal itself is not affected. Manu-
facturers Of ammonia and sulphuric
and acetic acids use platinum in
this way in their processes.
For the first time, the United
States government recently struck
off two platinum medals at the
Philadelphia mint. They are mas
ter copies of the medal designed
for the United States George Wash
ington bicentennial commission.
Once Adorned Savages.
platinum once was worn in the
form of nose rings and perforated
spanGles by the Indians Of South
America, but it was not until the
middle Of the Eighteenth century
that Europe first learned that the
metal had merit. Some of the
first platinum taken to Spain by
the South American cOlonists was
made into bricks and sold as gold
bricks because gold was then more
valuable. Platinum was not discov-
cred in Russia until about a hun
dred years ago. From 1923 to 1916,
Russia issued platinum coins. Coun-
terfeiters at first gold-plated plati-
mum coins and passed them as gold
coins. The coinage ceased because
the value of the platinum came to
exceed the face value of the coins
and many were exported.
Platinum is widely distributed
over the world, each continent hav-
ing at least one known source. Rus
sia, however. has been a leading
platinum producer for many years,
with Canada, South Africa, Colon
bia and Burma also supplying a
large share of the worlds supply.
Alaska, California, Nevada, oregon
and Utah are the leading United
States sources.
ain most platinum producing re-
giOns, the metal is by-product Of
gold, silver, copper and nickel min
ing, but in Russia gold is a by
product of platinum mining.
practically all platinum except
that produced in South Africa
comes from placer mines, that is,
from beds and banks Of rivers that
have washel down rocks containing
the metal While individuals still
pan for platinum as the forty
miners did for gold in the streams
Of California, large dredges now