History of Platinum in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: November 23, 2024

Platinum (Pt), atomic number 78, is a dense, malleable, ductile, and highly unreactive silverish-white transition metal. Its name comes from the Spanish word "platina," meaning "little silver." Known for its precious metal status, platinum's unreactive nature makes it valuable in various applications.

1906: Discovery of Platinum in the Bushveld Region

Platinum was discovered in the Bushveld region of South Africa in 1906.

1924: Discovery of the Merensky Reef

In 1924, Hans Merensky discovered the Merensky Reef in South Africa, a major source of platinum, containing about 75% of the world's known reserves.

1927: Platinum Mining Begins in Platinum, Alaska

Platinum mining operations commenced in Platinum, Alaska, in 1927.

1960: End of Platinum-Iridium Meter Standard

The use of the platinum-iridium international prototype meter as the standard definition of a meter ended in 1960.

1975: 17,000 kg of Platinum Mined in Platinum, Alaska

By 1975, approximately 17,000 kg of platinum had been extracted from the mine in Platinum, Alaska.

1990: Standard Platinum Resistance Thermometer

The Standard Platinum Resistance Thermometer (SPRT) became one of the defining instruments for the International Temperature Scale of 1990 (ITS-90).

1990: Platinum Mine Closure

The platinum mine in Platinum, Alaska, ceased operations in 1990.

2007: Nobel Prize in Chemistry

In 2007, Gerhard Ertl received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his research on the molecular mechanisms of catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide over platinum, which is crucial for the functioning of catalytic converters.

2010: South Africa Leads Platinum Production

South Africa became the leading producer of platinum in 2010, accounting for nearly 77% of global production.

2014: Platinum Usage Distribution

In 2014, the majority of platinum was used in vehicle emissions control devices (45%), followed by jewelry (34%), chemical production and petroleum refining (9.2%), and electrical applications (2.7%).