DEADLY FORCE: Shares of platinum miner Lonmin PLC fell as much as 8 percent Friday after it was revealed that South African police officers killed more than 30 striking miners at a company mine.

NOT SINCE APARTHEID: Police said 34 miners died and 78 others were wounded when police opened fire on strikers in one of the worst police shootings in South Africa since apartheid ended in 1994.

PRECIOUS METAL: Platinum is mainly mined for the manufacture of catalytic converters, which are used to lower exhaust emissions in cars. It is also used in jewelry, spark plugs and electrodes.