https://newsletter.en.creamermedia.com
Diamonds|Electrical|Platinum|Refinery|Refining|Valves
Diamonds|Electrical|Platinum|Refinery|Refining|Valves
diamonds|electrical|platinum|refinery|refining|valves

Osmium value likely to increase

An image depicting Osmium

DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH Beaumont says crystalline osmium attracts more long-term opportunities for investors than diamonds

Photo by Adobe Stock

10th February 2023

By: Sabrina Jardim

Creamer Media Online Writer

     

Font size: - +

Crystalline osmium – the scarcest and densest platinum-group metal (PGM) globally – attracts more long-term opportunities for investors than diamonds, says precious metals refiner Gauteng Refinery manager Michele Beaumont.

“Market observers expect an unprecedented increase in value in the coming years. The ‘for profit’ world collectors of crystalline osmium consider the metal a secret,” notes Beaumont.

She explains that osmium is not easily refined owing to it being a complex PGM with eight oxidation states.

The metal forms compounds with oxidation states ranging from -2 to +8, with +8 oxidation exhibited in osmium tetroxide – a toxic compound when powdered osmium is exposed to air.

Additionally, two particular osmium compounds have major applications: osmium tetroxide – for staining tissue in electron microscopy and for the oxidation of alkenes in organic synthesis – and the nonvolatile osmates for organic oxidation reactions.

Osmium tetroxide is used to detect fingerprints and stain fatty tissue for microscope slides, while platinum-osmium 90/10 alloy is used in implants such as pacemakers and replacement valves.

Osmium is also used to produce hard alloys with other PGMs for fountain pen tips, instrument pivots and electrical contacts. Crystalline osmium can be bought as crystal bars or billet rings and is nontoxic in this form.

The metal remains lustrous at high temperatures and has a low compressibility and high melting-point of 3 033 ºC.

Further, while the Gauteng Refinery has witnessed an ongoing demand for the refining of osmium, sourcing osmiridium – an alloy of osmium and iridium – remains challenging, owing the metal being a scarce, exhaustible resource.

Beaumont notes that the significant demand can be attributed to the Gauteng Refinery being one of only three global refineries that refine osmium.

“The search for osmiridum, and the refining thereof, is ongoing to meet the demands of investment and practical applications. Our aim has always been to create a centre of excellence for PGMs refining globally. We also aim to fulfil new and unique PGMs demand as it is created in an ever-evolving world,” concludes Beaumont.

Edited by Nadine James
Features Deputy Editor

Comments

Showroom

Alco-Safe
Alco-Safe

Developed to exceed the latest EN 15964 standards for police breathalysers proving that it will remain accurate and reliable for many years to come.

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Weir
Weir

Weir Minerals Europe, Middle East and Africa is a global supplier of excellent minerals solutions, including pumps, valves, hydrocyclones,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Photo of Martin Creamer
On-The-Air (15/11/2024)
15th November 2024 By: Martin Creamer

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.062 0.162s - 173pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now