In the latest issue of Johnson Matthey's annual review of the platinum group metals (pgms), “Platinum 2012”, Dr Jonathan Butler, Publications Manager at Johnson Matthey, presents a special feature giving an overview of the Russian pgm mining industry, historically the main source of platinum before the discovery of
At this week’s Mining Lekgotla (13-14 August 2014), the future of the currently suppressed platinum industry is likely to be a key agenda item. Whether fuel cell technology takes off is a critical determinant of what this future might look like.
The largest platinum miner worldwide is South African mining company Anglo American Platinum Ltd., headquartered in Johannesburg. Other leading platinum companies are Impala Platinum (South Africa), Lonmin (United Kingdom) and Norilsk Nickel (Russia).
Global Platinum Group Metals market competition by top manufacturers/players: Anglo American Platinum, Impala Platinum, JSC MMC Norilsk Nickel, Lonmin, Stillwater Mining, North American Palladium, African Rainbow Minerals, Eastern Platinum, Glencore Xstrata, Aquarius Platinum, Johnson Matthey.
Palladium, named after Pallas Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, is from the same group of metals as platinum, but has the malleability and ductility of gold. It was discovered in 1803 by English chemist William H. Wollaston after he dissolved platinum in a solution of hydrochloric and nitric acids.