Platinum
Rarest of all precious metals. Only 120-130 tons of platinum reach the western world markets each year. Approximately 10 tons of raw ore must be mined to produce one pure ounce of platinum. Platinum is necessary to the future of a pollution-free world.

Approximately 90% of all platinum supplies come from South Africa and the former Soviet Republics. Platinum is used in production of one of every five consumer products. All the platinum ever mined throughout history would fill a cube less than 25 feet on each side.

Palladium
Produced as a by-product of platinum and nickel mining. Palladium is primarily an industrial metal, often applied in a number of uses as an alloy of platinum. Investment demand for palladium exists, although to a lesser extent than gold, silver, and platinum. Russia is the largest producer of palladium. The second largest source of palladium flows from South Africa, with smaller amounts of palladium recovered in Canada, the United States, Brazil, Australia, Finland, and Zimbabwe.

Primary uses for palladium are electronics, cold fusion experiments, and platinum-based auto catalysts. Palladium is also used in electronic components and connectors. Palladium paste is used in semiconductors found in most personal computers, cellular telephones, and an enormous range of electronically controlled devices. Palladium is also combined with gold to create dental alloys. Palladium is joined with gold to lighten the color of the alloy and heighten its corrosion-resistance properties.

The third largest use of palladium is in auto catalysts, where palladium is often combined with platinum. More and more palladium is being included in stationary site catalysts designed to reduce harmful emissions from commercial establishments as well as from vehicles. Palladium plays a smaller role in jewelry, chemical process and petroleum refining catalysts, and brazing alloys.