Shirley King, age 11, of Gravity, Ia., For her question:

What exactly is platinum?

Lumps of precious platinum may be found in the ground., if you know the likely places to look for it. You might find a nugget weighing 20 pounds, and the silvery metal is worth about $500 an ounce. At one time it sold for $1750 an ounce.

Platinum is one of the basic chemical elements. It is related to the elements iron, cobalt and nickel though it is far more durable than these metals. In fact, it is one of the most durable of all metals. An alloy of platinum and the silvery metal iridium is used to make the standard measure of the meter. The color of platinum is pale silvery white, and its handsome sheen makes it very popular for making fine jewelry.