Platinum
and iridium have been found in an appreciable quantity in gold placers
on the Russian border of Mongolia, and although no definite production
from this source can be given, it is to be supposed that rich platinum
and iridium placers will be developed in that region.
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Under
the stimulus of higher prices prospecting is under way in the Tulameen
district, near Princeton, British Columbia, considerable proportions
of platinum having been found in the placer gold of Granite Creek. The
region was well described in Mineral Resources for 1911, and in the
British Mining Journal of March 1, 1913.
The
report for 1911 called attention to a reported find of platinum in
certain dikes in the vicinity of Nelson, British Columbia. Since that
time the provincial mineralogist has sampled these deposits and caused
assays to be made by seven different authorities. As the result of this
work it is evident that the claims of platinum in these deposits can
hot be substantiated.
OTHER PLATINUM METALS.
Palladium.—The
uses, production, and imports of palladium were discussed in the report
on platinum and allied metals in this series for 1911. In this it
appeared that the estimated total production of palladium in the United
States for 1911 was 2,390 ounces, partly from domestic and partly from
imported sources. Considerable palladium accompanies the sperrylite
obtained from the Sudbury copper mines in Ontario, Canada. Ruthenium is
also found in this copper ore. Palladium also occurs with the platinum
in the Rambler district of Wyoming.
The
average price quoted for palladium was $55 per troy ounce. The Bureau
of Foreign and Domestic Commerce reports the importation of 4,967
ounces of palladium in the calendar year 1912, valued at $213,397,
compared with 1,218 troy ounces in'1911. valued at $56,307.
Iridium.—Iridium
is the highest-priced metal of the platinum group. It averaged $65 per
ounce during 1912, and the price is likely to rise on account of its
increasing use for hardening platinum. It is probable that the supply
may be somewhat extended in 1913 and subsequent years by increased
beach mining on the Oregon coast, where iridosmine forms an unusually
large proportion of the platinum sand.
