Colombia
Colombia produces an average of 483 kilograms of platinum annually, making it the eighth largest platinum producer in the world. The average platinum production in Colombia from 1998 to 2020 was 832 kilograms, with fluctuations ranging from 163 kilograms in 2019 to a peak of 1460 kilograms in 2012.
- Colombia’s Andean highlands serve as a rich source of various minerals and metals.
- Platinum in Colombia is commonly associated with ultrabasic rocks like pyroxenes, peridotites, and dunites, located along the seaward flanks in the western cordillera.
- The weathering of these minerals, along with river movement, leads to the formation of alluvial deposits comprising gravel and platiniferous sands.
- The Chocó region in Pacific Colombia is the most significant area for exploiting these platinum resources, with smaller areas found in the state of Esmeraldas in north-coastal Ecuador and near the Tumaco district in the Narino department in south-coastal Colombia.
Top 10 Largest Platinum Producing Countries in the World
South Africa is the largest producer of platinum, producing more than twice as much as the rest of the world combined. In 2022, the global platinum mine production reached 188.5 metric tons, with the top five nations contributing to 97.8% of the world’s total.
In this article, we will discuss the List of Top 10 Platinum Producing Countries in 2023, along with a detailed explanation of each country.