UK (Australia), 1921

At times, the price of osmiridium is very high. In 1921, £42 10s. an ounce was being paid for it on the Tasmanian fields. The London price is said to have once touched the surprising figure of £85 an ounce.

February 1921: "The buyers of Tasmania's production of osmiridium are not quoting, and although recent sales were made on the basis of £34 per oz. for average metal, it is expected that the price will be serious reduced."

January(?) 1921: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) = £ 42.50
February(?) 1921: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) = £ 34.
  
August, 1921: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) = £ 18.

August, 1921:

UK (Australia), 1919: Tasmanian Osmiridium

October?, 1919: 1 Troy Ounce Osmiridium (Tasmania) = £ 33.

UK (Australia), 1918: Osmiridium

DSQ 

January?, 1917: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) = £ 11.
December?, 1917: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) = £ 18.50
Best, 1917: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) = £ 22.50

January, 1918: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) = £ 14.75 
February, 1918: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) = £ 14.75
March, 1918: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) = £ 14.75
April, 1918: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) = £ 14.75
May, 1918: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) = £ 14.75
June, 1918: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) = £ 14.75
July, 1918: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) = £ 14.75
August, 1918: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) = £ 33.
September, 1918: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) = £ 33.
Late October, 1918: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) = £ 37.375
November, 1918: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) = £ 15.
December, 1918: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) = £ 14.
January, 1918: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) = £ 7.90
January, 1918: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) = £ 7.90
January, 1918: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) = £ 7.90
January, 1918: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) = £ 7.90

 
1918: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Local High) = £ 14. - 15.
1918: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Mkt or avg?) = £ 27.90
1918: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Local High) = £ 37.25

1918: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Mkt) = £ 40.
1919?: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Local High) = £ 33.


"Platinum in 1918"

"The average price paid for crude osmiridium in the Tasmanian markets during 1918 was £20 7s. ($98.90) an ounce, the highest point, £37 7s. 6d. ($181.62) an ounce, being reached just before the armistice was signed, but after that time the price broke to £15 ($72.90) an ounce."

Russia, 1884

Estimating the Russian Price per Funt at Fr 350.  and the author's French Franc/Rouble exchange at  2.50 руб Kr, 1 Poud = 5,600 руб



 

 
1884: 1 Troy Oz Osmiridium (Grains @ St. Petersburg) = USD$ 2. - 6.

 

c.1884: 1 Ozt Osmium (SPb: Medicinal: Ref.) = руб Kr. 124.40 (~USD$ 73.)

Citation: Practitioner, Vol. 35 (1885) p.290

1884: Pt Yield = 136.625 Poud = 5,465 Funt = 71,952.8 Ozt.= 2,238 Kgs  
1884: Au Yield = 2,009.2 Poud = 80,368.8 Funt = 1,058,145.4 Ozt. = 32,912 Kgs
















Export, by Country:

Russia, 1867

The Poud-Rate for Paris-delivery of Russian-refined Platinum @ 3,100 руб was 189.25 руб /Kg. for refined ingot; Paris delivery raised the price 25%.

The Funt-Rate for SPb Russian platina (~83%) @ 1,680.8 руб was 102.61 руб/Kg. of ore.

The Funt-Rate for SPb Russian Platinum @ 2,500 руб was 152.62 руб/Kg. of Platinum Sponge/Ingot.

- Paris Delivery is ascertained to be 15 руб Kr./Фунт; 36.63 руб Kr./Kg.; 1.14 руб Kr.
- St. Petersburg Refining Cost is ascertained to be 475 руб Kr./пуд; 11.87 руб Kr./Фунт; 28.99 руб Kr./Kg.; 0.902 руб Kr.

1867: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (Paris: Ru Pt .999) = 5.89 руб Kr.
= US Gold $ 4.41; USD$ 6.107

Where the "livre"/Фунт (=13.166 English Troy Ounces)

1867: 1 Troy Oz. platina (SPb: ~83% ore, Whols.) = 3.1915 руб Kr.
= $ 2.39; USD$ 3.31 

1867: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (SPb: Ore @ .999, Whols.) = 3.845 руб Kr.
= $ 2.88; USD$ 3.99
 
1867: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (SPb: Semi-Mfg, Whols.) = 4.75 руб Kr. (~ Fr. 19.)
=$ 3.56; USD$ 4.93

1867: 1 Troy Oz. Iridosmine (SPb: 74% Ir) = 6.1977 руб Kr.
= $ 4.64; USD$ 6.43 

1867: 1 Troy Oz. Ir (SPb: Ore @ .999, Whols.) =  8.38 руб Kr.
= $ 6.27; USD$ 8.69

1860: 1 Troy Oz. Iridosmine (Paris: Ural Ore 74%, Ret.)  = 19.163 руб Kr.  (Fr 75.76)
1860: 1 Troy Oz. Ir (Paris: Ural Ore .999, Ret.) ~ 25.90 руб Kr.

1867: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum-Black (SPb: Residue, Whols.) = 0.7291 руб Kr.

1869: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum-Black (Germany: Residue, Ret.) = 17.86 руб Kr.

Citation: Paris Universal Exposition, 1867: Report upon the Precious Metals... ; William Phipps Blake, Reports of the US Commissioners (1869)





1867, Russian (~83%?) ore production: 2,259.69 Kgs/ 72,650.64 Ozt.

Citation: A Treatise on Chemistry: Metals; Henry Enfield Roscoe, Carl Schorlemmer (1879)


Citation: California Journal of Mines and Geology, Vol. 3? (1883) p.20


Iridosmine purity


St. Petersburg Rumor (June 1867) of Russian Platinum coinage; reported  : 

Germany, 1831

1831: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum-Black (trade) = Thr 6.38 (Fl. 9.29, M 12.92)
(£ 0.9323;  ~Fr 23.34 ; ~ руб Acc. 21.13 ; ~USD$ 4.43)

1 (Saxon?) Thaler assumed to be £ 0.1462, Fr 3.66, USD$ 0.6941 

Citation: Journal für technische und ökonomische Chemie, Vol. 10; Otto Linné Erdmann (1831) p.144  

Eine Quantität Osmium-Iridium (Rückstand von der Zerlegung des Platinerzes durch Salpetersalzsäure) von 8-10 Unzen steht zu verkaufen. Die Unze kostet 6 Thlr. Chemiker, welche davon zu besitzen wünschen, können ihre Bestellung portofrei an den Herausgeber dieses Journals gelangen lassen. 

A quantity of of 8 -10 Unzen Osmium-Iridium (residue from the reduction of platinum ore by  nitro-hydrochloric acid) is for sale. The Unze costs 6 Thaler.  Chemists who desire to purchase may order  postage free from the editor of this journal.



 
1831:

Australia/UK, 1943

Citation: The Mining Magazine - Vol. 68 (1943) p.108
Platinum. — Prices remain at the level at which they have stood for a long time — namelv, £ 8 10s. to £8 12s. lxl. per troy oz. for ... Whilst official buying prices here still range from 55s. to 100s. per unit f.o.b. producing country most of the material is ... Virgin ingots, minimum 99%, are still priced at £110 per ton delivered.



1943: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (ore, NSW) = £ 6.3724 (USD$ )
1945: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (ore) = £ 11. (USD$ )

1925: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (ore, Tasmania) = £ 30.7786 (USD$ )
1925: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (ore, Cited High) = £ 31. (USD$ )

1938: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (ore, Cited Low) = £ 0.7667 (USD$ )
1938: 1 Troy Oz. Gold (Fine, mkt) = £ 8.69 - 9.14 (USD$ )


1940: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (ore, Rise) = £ 25.9542 (USD$ )
1940: 1 Troy Oz. Gold (Fine, mkt) = £ 10.4167 - 10.671 (USD$ )


1945: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (ore, 'High') = £ 25.525 (USD$ )
1945: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (ore, avg.) = £ 24.45 (USD$ )
1945: 1 Troy Oz. Gold (Fine, mkt) = £ 10.6 - 10.74 (USD$ )





"...following demands for war purposes the price rose steadily, reaching an all-time high of 119 dollars an ounce in 1925." 

 Citation: Official Year Book of the Commonwealth of Australia No. 37 - 1946 and 1947; Australia. Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics. p. 832; p.620

UK, 1910 -1924: Osmium in Tasmania

1910- 1924: Iridosmine (Osmium-Iridium) in Tasmania, Australia

Assay, c.1913:

1912:
 


June 1910: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) = £ 4.417

March-June, 1910:



See also: Official Year Book of the Commonwealth of Australia, Issue 27; Issue 1934 p.451

1910: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) = £ 4.33

1911: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) = £ 4.384
1911: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (High, Mkt) = £ 7.50

1912: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Mkt) = £ 7.371

1913: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Mkt) = £ 9.53
1914: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) = £ 5.675
1914: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Mkt) = £ 9.89
1915: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) = £ 6.40

1916: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) = £ 8.55
1917: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) = £ 11.
1917: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Mkt) = £ 14.75
1917: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Mkt) = £ 18.50
1917: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Best Quality) = £ 22.50

1918: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) = £ 7.90
1918: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Local High) = £ 14. - 15.
1918: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Mkt or avg?) = £ 27.90
1918: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Local High) = £ 37.25

1918: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Mkt) = £ 40.
1919: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Local High) = £ 33.

UK (Australia), 1920: Tasmanian Osmiridium

February, 1920: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) ~ £ 40. (USD$ )
March, 1920: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) = £ 42.50 (USD$ 155.55)
December, 1920: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) ~ £ 35. (USD$ )
Dec. Low, 1920: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Tasmania) ~ £ 30. (USD$ )
 
  March, 1920: Osmiridium Price Price in Tasmania, Australia?









1918-1919: A 'significant' export of Osmiridium from Papua (reported in Pacific Ports Manual, 7th Ed. 1921) was presumably declared in avoirdupois ounces (hence, 5.5 lbs. avd or 80.66 Troy Ounces.) A packet of 2.5 lbs. avd is 36.46 Troy Ounces, whereby a single opportune discovery (in the rainy season, April 1919?) represented nearly half the entire Papuan export for that year.



c.January 1920: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (London) ~ £ 32.91 (USD$ 156.66)



Anecdotal, by August 1921:


1920: USGS market prices suggest January 1920 price for the Osmiridium quotation; US imports of osmiridium were nearly four times higher in 1920.

UK/Australia, 1933: Osmium

Citation: Official year book of the Commonwealth of Australia; Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics, Australian Bureau of Statistics (1935) p.637

UK/Australia, 1940: Osmium

Citation: Official Year Book of the Commonwealth of Australia No. 33 - 1940 By Australia. Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics p.992

UK, 1950

South African Osmirium/Iridosmine:

USA, 1916

DSQ

1916: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Ru, Export Avg.) = USD$ 68.90
1916: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (NY Mkt, Avg.) = USD$ 83.90

January, 1916: 1 Ozt. Platinum (NYC: .999 ingot) = USD$ 90.05
February, 1916: 1 Ozt. Platinum (NYC: .999 ingot) = USD$ 90.05
March, 1916: 1 Ozt. Platinum (NYC: .999 ingot) = USD$ 90.75
April, 1916: 1 Ozt. Platinum (NYC: .999 ingot) = USD$ 83.10
...

Citation: Engineering and Mining Journal, Vol. 107 No.2 (1919) p.76


1916: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Mkt) = USD$ 93.30

 

 Imports of PGMs:

USA, 1917: Platinum Ware

c. October 1917: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (semi-mfg, black-market) = USD$ 200.

Citation: Revenue Act of 1918; Part 3, United States Congress: House Committee on Ways and Means, Claude Kitchin p.1350

Late? 1917: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (semi-mfg, whols.) = USD$ 120.

Late? 1917: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Scrap BOUGHT) = USD$ 90.

In April 1917 the market price for Platinum ingot was $103.77. The 'net price' is understood to be either the market price for the refined metal (excluding any manufacturing cost) OR the manufacturer's wholesale market price (excluding any taxes or duties.)

If the former case, the retail price for semi-manufactured Platinum should be incrementally/ proportionately higher.

April 1917: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (manufactured, whols.) = USD$ 115.69

April 1917: 1 Troy Oz. Palladium Gold Alloy (, whols.) = USD$ 62.20

Palladium Prices, monthly (1917): $73. - 130.60

Citation: The Mineral Industry, Vol. 27 p.571

(?) 1916: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Mfg, Trade) = USD$ 115.69

(?) 1916: 1 Troy Oz. Palladium Gold Alloy (Trade) = USD$ 62.20

Citation: Soil science, Vol. 3, Rutgers University (1917) p.xix

Citation: The Journal of the National Dental Association, Vol. 5 (1917) p.1145

Platinised Gold, prior to 1918:
 


 Imports of PGMs:






History of events in US Pt mkt: