Russia iridium

Osmium occurs along with iridium in nature as the mineral iridosmine. It is found in Canada, Russia, and parts of Africa. 

Iridium is the 83rd most abundant element and is found mixed with platinum, osmium, and nickel ores. The minerals containing iridium are found in Russia, South Africa, Canada, and Alaska. 

K. Klaus began his research in 1840. The then Minister of Finance of Russia E.F. Kankrin, a competent and energetic person, rendered him great assistance Klaus obtained 2 pounds of crude platinum residue and extracted a considerable amount of iridium, rhodium, osmium, and palladium from it, apart from 10% platinum. In addition, Klaus separated a mixture of metals which, in his opinion, had to contain a new substance. 

Iridium and osmium are both found in the earth s crust in concentrations of about 0.001 ppm. These metals are most often found together in the alloys osmiridium or sy-serkite (less than or equal to 60% iridium and about 35% osmium), iridiosmium or neuyanskite (greater than 60% iridium and about 20% osmium), and osmium in lauritite (Ru, Os)S2. Estimates indicate that the Russia is the largest supplier of iridium and South Africa has the largest supply of osmium. 

In 1911 Karl Kaiser introduced preheating of the air up to 300-400°C before passing it through four platinum gauzes in a square reactor. The gairze was a 1050 mesh of 0.06-mm wire that was alloyed with traces of palladitrm or iridium and produced 1.5 tormes of ammortia per sqrrare foot per day with a life of three months. This corresponded to 90-92% conversion in plants operating in Kharkoff, Russia, and in England. ... 

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