generic term for nib tipping material, though other platinum-group metals are more often used instead

a heavy brittle metallic element of the platinum group; used in alloys; occurs in natural alloys with platinum or osmium

A white metal related to platinum. Used in platinum alloys. - Used after a number to denote gold purity, i.e. 10k, 24k etc. The number is the purity of the gold out of 24 parts. Thus 10k is 10 parts out of 24 pure or 41.6%, 12k is 12 parts out of 24 pure or 50%, 14k is 14 parts out of 24 or 58.3%, 18k is 18 parts out of 24 or 75% and 24k is 24 parts out of 24 pure or 100% pure.

Gold being too "soft" and susceptible to wear for continued writing, nibs need to be "tipped" with a more durable material. Although other metals were also used, iridium has become the common term to refer to all tipping material. Most Iridium for vintage pens was mined in Russia.

(1) A very hard precious metal (atomic number 77, symbol Ir) used for tipping of fountain pens due to its resistance to wear and corrosion. (2) A generic term for the tipping material of a fountain pen, which may often be an alloy of other materials with iridium (particularly other hard metals in the platinum group, such as osmium or ruthenium).

Iridium like osmium is a metal with an extrem hardness. A lot of fountain pen manufacturers used this material for the "tip" of their nibs. It is much more durable as gold.

One of the platinum family of metals. It is often alloyed with platinum to increase workability.

A silvery metallic element belonging to the platinum group.

Rare element in Earth's surface that provided the first evidence that an asteroid collision caused dinosaurs to become extinct (p.215-216).

A dense and rare white metal with a slight yellowish cast. This brittle element is the most corrosion-resistant metal known. It is used in platinum alloys to harden it.

Iridium is a metal related to platinum. Iridium and platinum are frequently alloyed together, since the iridium increases the workability of the platinum. Iridium is also used for the points of gold-nibbed pens.

(pronounced irr-ID-ee-um) Iridium is a heavy metal element that is rare on the Earth's surface, but abundant on chondritic meteors and in the Earth's core.

A corrosive resistant element that is sometimes used to harden platinum.

Iridium (IPA: ) is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Ir and atomic number 77. A dense, very hard, brittle, silvery-white transition metal of the platinum family, iridium is used in high strength alloys that can withstand high temperatures and occurs in natural alloys with platinum or osmium. Iridium is notable for being the most corrosion resistant element known and for its significance in the determination of the probable cause of the demise, by a meteorite strike, of the dinosaurs.

A low earth orbit satellite communications system developed initially by Motorola.

A company that manufactures and runs a mobile satellite communications system. Using one of their handsets linked to their satellite network, calls can made from anywhere on the planet, no matter how remote.

A global mobile phone system of 66 satellites that offer global communications.

First LEO based global communications system backed by Motorola. Primarily for voice, it was launched in 1998 and went into Chapter 11 in 1999.

The first LEO-based global communications system. Launched in 1998, went into Chapter 11 in 1999 and resurrected in 2000. See Iridium.

The Iridium satellite constellation is a system of 66 active communication satellites and spares around the Earth. The system was originally to have 77 active satellites, and as such was named for the element iridium, which has atomic number 77. The original name was retained even though the number of active satellites is less than planned (the element with atomic number 66 is called dysprosium, which in Greek means "hard to get at/hard to get in contact with" and thus was unacceptable).