Platinum Ore Merensky Reef [73817] South Africa

This specimen is called platiniferous pyroxenite. It is a platinum-bearing ore from the Merensky Reef in South Africa. This material has been found to contain the platinum group elements: platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, and osmium. They are referred to as PGMs (platinum group metals) or PGEs (platinum group elements). These elements have similar physical and chemical properties and tend to be found together in nature.

The initial platinum recovery in South Africa occurred in the East Rand gold mines. However, the first platinum mine was a short-lived venture near Naboomspruit, which worked a few very patchy quartz reefs. The discovery of the Bushveld Igneous Complex (BIC) deposits was made in 1924 and was an alluvial deposit first recognized by the geologist Hans Merensky. Merensky’s prospecting work discovered the Bushveld Igneous Complex and traced it for several hundred kilometers.

Since then, the Bushveld Igneous Complex has been found to contain the largest reserves of PGMs or PGEs in the world. It is thought to contain about 75 percent of the world’s platinum and about 50 percent of the world's palladium resources.

Extensive mining of the Merensky Reef for its platinum metals was not economically feasible until an upsurge in demand for the platinum group elements in the 1950s, making their exploitation very lucrative ever since.

This ore contains PGMs or PGEs from the Merensky Reef, South Africa.

Size of the Specimen: 34mm L X 22mm W X 18mm D.

Ships with Certificate of Authenticity, label, protective box, and tag stand. The acrylic riser and photo cube are not included.

You can buy this specimen today and add the Merensky Reef locality to your diverse geological collection today.

This scientific material is Guaranteed Authentic. It was professionally and legally collected and arrives with a Certificate of Authenticity.