Platinum by weight

Return to the list of questions or ask a question.

Category: Mining and Geology

Subject: Platinum by weight

Question

How many grams of platinum are in the world?

Answer

Data on platinum supply and demand is freely available on Johnson Matthey's Platinum Today website.

Between 1975 and 2006, a total of 130,715,000 troy oz platinum were supplied worldwide, which is equivalent to about 4,065,236 kg or 4,065 tonnes.

Studies have been carried out to estimate the reserves of platinum in the ground. These include a study published by Professor Cawthorn* in 1999, estimating the reserves in the Bushveld Igneous Complex, South Africa, the major primary source of platinum.

Bushveld Igneous Complex*, South Africa:

Proven and probable reserves: 203.3 million troy oz Pt (6,323 tonnes)

Inferred reserves: 939 million troy oz Pt (29,206 tonnes)

*R. G. Cawthorn, S. Afr. J. Sci., 1999, 95, 481–489

Estimates of platinum reserves in the rest of the world include**:

Zimbabwe (Great Dyke): 143 million troy oz (4,448 tonnes)

Russia (Norilsk, Talnakh): 89 million troy oz (2,768 tonnes)

USA (Stillwater): 36 million troy oz (1,119 tonnes)

Canada (Sudbury): 9 million troy oz (280 tonnes)

Total for all countries excluding South Africa: 387 million troy oz (12,037 tonnes)

**C. F. Vermaak, “The Platinum-Group Metals – a Global Perspective”, Mintek, Randburg, 1995, 247 pp, quoted in R. G. Cawthorn, S. Afr. J. Sci., 1999, 95, p. 488

More information is published regularly in Johnson Matthey’s Platinum reviews.

Answer posted 04 January 2007

Submitted by: Mr Brit Mohr

Answered by: Sara Coles

Affiliation: Platinum Metals Review