Platinum comes mainly from deep underground mines in a few countries, where it is found mixed with other metals like nickel and copper. It also turns up in river sands and old mine waste, though in smaller amounts.
Most platinum starts its journey in rocks deep below the Earth’s surface. These rocks form in special layers from ancient volcanic activity, trapping platinum with similar rare metals called platinum-group metals. South Africa leads the world in digging it up, pulling out over 70 percent of the global supply from tough underground mines. Russia, Zimbabwe, and Canada follow, often as a bonus from mining nickel or copper.[2]
In these mines, workers blast and haul out raw ore, which looks like dull rock but holds tiny bits of platinum. Machines crush the ore into powder, then mix it with water and chemicals in flotation tanks. This makes platinum particles stick to bubbles and float to the top, separating from waste rock. The concentrate goes to smelters with electric arc furnaces that melt it at super high heat, turning it into a rough metal sponge.[1][7]
Refineries take over next, using acids and electricity to purify it. One key step dissolves the metal in a strong acid mix called aqua regia, then filters out gold and other bits. Heating or chemicals pull out pure platinum, ending up as shiny 99.95 percent pure bars worth millions.[1][2][7]
Not all platinum needs deep mines. Sometimes nature does the work. Heavy platinum nuggets sink in rivers and streams, forming placer deposits in sand and gravel. Miners use water to wash away light dirt, leaving platinum behind with tools like pans, sluices, or dredges. This old method still catches some platinum alongside gold and diamonds, especially in places like Russia or Alaska.[3][5]
Today, miners eye old mine dumps too. In South Africa, new tech reprocesses waste tailings to squeeze out extra platinum, helping meet rising demand from clean energy like fuel cells.[6]
Projects in Brazil show promise, with near-surface deposits tested by flotation and leaching to keep costs low.[4]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs23Co_OP6Y
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platinum
https://www.aziwell.com/articles/placer-mining
https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/chinas-strategic-critical-mineral-classification-of-platinum-its-investment-implications-for-global-pgm-supply-pricing-and-emerging-developers
https://www.britannica.com/technology/placer-mining
https://www.climatechangenews.com/2025/11/26/south-africas-platinum-mine-dumps-get-a-second-look-as-clean-energy-lifts-demand/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgtLgpGIsZE
Sources