Friends of Merry Lea News

Nearly 40 Friends of Merry Lea joined us in mid-March for our annual Friends of Merry Lea dinner. This year’s theme was, “Platinum: Getting There and Beyond,” celebrating Rieth Village’s platinum rating from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Merry Lea’s executive director, Luke Gascho, began the evening program with a light-hearted pop-quiz on the metal, platinum. Friends scratched their heads, trying to remember whether the atomic symbol for platinum is P or Pt and whether quicksilver was another name for platinum. Most failed the quiz, but they now know that the melting point of platinum is over 3,000 degrees and that one significant use of this metal is as a catalyst in catalytic converters in cars.

Before dinner, program director Dave Miller led the group on a 1.3-mile hike passing through many of Merry Lea’s varied ecosystems. Most Friends joined the walk, undeterred by soggy March weather.

All Merry Lea volunteers and those who have donated at least $25 to Merry Lea in the preceding year are invited to the annual Friends dinner. See support Merry Lea to join this jovial group.

Test Yourself:

Here are a few of the questions that stumped many of the Friends of Merry Lea. Can you answer them?

1. Which country is the top producer of platinum?
a) South Africa b) Russia c) Canada d) USA

2. Platinum is an extremely rare metal, occurring as only .003 parts per billion in the Earth’s crust. How much more rare is it than gold?
a) 10 times b) 30 times c) 50 times d) 70 times

3. On March 14, 2008, the price of platinum per ounce in U.S. dollars was:
a) $2,107. b) $1003. c) $512. d) $20.

And here’s one more that you will probably be able to answer if you got #3 right:

4. Merry Lea’s Platinum Award from the U.S. Green Building Council is made out of:
a) platinum b) gold c) recycled glass d) fair trade chocolate

See answers below

Answers: 1. a 2. b 3. a 4. c