How is platinum obtained?

Platinum is obtained through mining in the same way that gold, silver and other precious metals are mined. Roughly 90 percent of the world supply of platinum comes from two sources: South Africa and Russia.

It takes 10 tons of ore and six months of processing in order to produce 1 pure ounce of platinum. Platinum is 11 percent denser than gold and much more rare. Annually, the world produces 130 tons of platinum, which is only 6 percent of the amount of gold produced in one year. All of the platinum mined throughout history would only fill a 25-square-foot room.