Platinum

Uses: Platinum, a precious metal, is widely used in catalytic converters to reduce vehicle emissions, in jewelry for its durability and luster, and in industrial applications like chemical catalysts, fuel cells, and medical equipment due to its corrosion resistance and conductivity.

Mining: Platinum is primarily mined in South Africa, Russia, and Zimbabwe from sulfide ore deposits. It is extracted via open-pit or underground mining, followed by crushing, flotation, smelting, and refining to isolate platinum from other platinum-group metals in the ore.