Platinum is a rare metal. The overwhelming bulk of annual production comes from two countries, South Africa and Russia. In South Africa, the output comes from primary production in mines that are deep in the crust of the earth. In Russia, platinum and other platinum group metals are byproducts of nickel output in the Norilsk region of Siberia.
Platinum is a hybrid like gold and silver. Its density and resistance to heat give platinum substantial industrial applications. At the same time, the metal formally "rich person's gold" has a reputation as a store of value