May 8, 2010

USA, 1854: NYC Chemists' Catalogues (Kent)

1854: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (Manufactured, Retail) = $ 14.40 - 28.80
1854:1 Ozt. Platinum (Refined) = $ 9.60 - 12.0
1854: 1 Ozt. platina (Ore, Ret.) = $8.0
1854: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Scraps, whols.) = $8.0

1854: 1 Ozt. Platinum Chloride (PtCl2, Ret.) = $ 10.
1854: 1 Fluid Oz. Platinum Chloride (PtCl2, Ret.) = $ 1.
1854: 1 Oz. Ammonium Chloroplatinate ([NH4]2[PtCl6], Ret.) = $ 10. 
1854: 1 Oz. Potassium Tetrachloroplatinate (K2PtCl4, Ret.) = $ 10.
  
Citation: Descriptive catalogue of chemical apparatus, chemicals and pure reagents (1854 Kent Catalogue, p.14)


Citation: Descriptive catalogue of chemical apparatus, chemicals and pure reagents (1854 Kent Catalogue, p.33)



Citation: Descriptive catalogue of chemical apparatus, chemicals and pure reagents (1854 Kent Catalogue, p.50)


Citation: Descriptive catalogue of chemical apparatus, chemicals and pure reagents (1854 Kent Catalogue, p.51)




c.1854: 1 Ozt Platinum? (Alloy? Semi-Mfg, Whols.) = USD$ 8.78

Citation: Shaffner's telegraph companion: devoted to the science and art ..., Volumes 1-2, Taliaferro Preston Shaffner (1854), p.40.


In Chamberlain & Ritchie's Descriptive catalogue of philosophical apparatus. : Chamberlain & Ritchie, nos. 2 & 9 School Street, Boston (c.1854)

p. 346 "Platina Foreceps, 3.00"
p. 347 "Platina Spatulas, 1.50, 2., and 2.50"




Iridosmine in No. Cal. :
  



On the US market, retail Platinum appears to be 4x less than retail Gold or 'about half the [common price] of Gold. Minor PGM discoveries on the West Coast were not well-appreciated in San Francisco: auro-platinum was difficult to sell!

1854/5:


1854: Port Orford "platina" was mostly Osmiridium, and only ~ 44% Platinum





Lt Williamson's 1853 expedition for the Corps of Topographical Engineers confirmed Platinum at sites in California. The ore was 43.54% Pt, 93.68% PGMs.

Osmium-Iridium ............. 49.37%
Approx. Iridium ............. ~26%
Approx. Osmium ............. ~21%

Platinum ........................... 43.54%
Rhodium ..............................0.60%
Palladium .............................0.50%
Gold ......................................1.32% 

Citation: Report of a geological reconnaissance in California: &c ; William Phipps Blake (1858)

 


USA imports of Platinum and platina:

Citation: The Merchants' Magazine and Commercial Review, Vol. 32;  Freeman Hunt



circa 1854: Dental alloy of Gold & Platinum (0.916/0.083; 0.83/0.16) for Plate


Another alloy


Using Platinum to solder teeth:



1854/5: US Import




c.1854



1854: A Madrid banking source indcates the same Au-Pt ratio (1:4) explicitly.





Adjusting for Real Inflation since 1854 (5,727%) we can extrapolate a long term price for wholesale refined Platinum @ $ 466. (in 2009 USD$) The respective platinum price is inflation-projected to ~ $ 565. per Troy Ounce in 2009 Dollars.

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