What is it and where is it formed?  Platinum is the rarest metal. It costs double what gold costs.  It is formed in igneous rocks that have iron and magnesium in them.  Platinum is found in thin layers along with other metals like copper and gold. 

How and where is it mined?  It is mined using surface and underground mining.  When the igneous rocks are weathered by wind, rain, snow, etc., the platinum is washed down into rivers and streams where it is mined with placer mining.  In the old time silver mines, the miners thought platinum was a junky form of silver and threw it away.  People call platinum “white gold” because it is found in places where gold is mined.  Platinum is found in grains or flakes.  In the United States, we get platinum when copper and gold are processed.  It is mined in South Africa, Russia, Columbia, Alaska, and Canada.

What is it used for?  Platinum is used for surgical instruments, chemical equipment, jewelry, and catalytic converters in cars.  It can be molded easily, so it is used for things like wire and in things that need to be bent.