Iridium
About Iridium
Iridium is the most corrosion-resistant metal known and one of the rarest elements in the Earth's crust. It is essential for growing single crystals used in electronics, spark plugs for helicopters and aircraft, and increasingly in proton exchange membrane electrolyzers for green hydrogen production. South Africa dominates global supply as iridium is a co-product of platinum mining.
Primary Uses
Top Producing Countries
Quick Facts
- Symbol
- Ir
- Atomic Number
- 77
- Category
- Platinum Group Metal
- Criticality Level
- High
- Supply Risk
- High
- Top Producer
- South Africa
- USGS Critical List
- Listed
- EU CRM List
- Listed
Explore Iridium In Depth
Dive into detailed analysis across 11 key topics covering every aspect of the Iridium value chain.
Uses & Applications
Discover the primary industrial, technological, and commercial applications of Iridium across key sectors.
Supply Chain
Trace the Iridium supply chain from mine to market, including key intermediaries, processing hubs, and trade flows.
Mining & Processing
Learn how Iridium is extracted, concentrated, and processed into usable forms for downstream industries.
Refining & Grade Specs
Explore the refining methods, purity grades, and technical specifications that define Iridium products.
Recycling
Assess the recycling potential, current recovery rates, and circular economy opportunities for Iridium.
Substitutes
Evaluate possible substitutes and alternative materials that could reduce dependence on Iridium.
Investing
Understand the investment landscape for Iridium, including equities, ETFs, futures, and direct exposure strategies.
Price
Analyze Iridium pricing mechanisms, historical trends, benchmarks, and the factors that drive market volatility.
Companies
Identify the major miners, processors, and technology companies involved in the Iridium value chain.
Projects
Review the significant mining and processing projects shaping the future supply of Iridium worldwide.
Risks
Examine the supply risks, geopolitical vulnerabilities, and strategic concerns associated with Iridium.
Return to the full Mineral Library to explore other critical and strategic minerals.