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As you know, metals are a group of chemical elements that have certain characteristics: high electrical and thermal conductivity, malleability, characteristic luster and some other properties. Man has learned to use metals for his own purposes almost from the very beginning of civilization. Now it is very difficult to imagine any branch of human activity where chemical elements of this group would not be used. With the development of technology, humanity is identifying and creating more and more rare and very expensive metals. The price per gram for some of their types is really surprising. Naturally, the question arises, what is the most expensive metal in the world at the moment?
There are two types of metals:
- natural;
- artificial (obtained in laboratory conditions).
Moreover, prices for the latter can be truly astronomical. In our article, we have selected the most expensive metals, regardless of their origin. So let's get started.
Silver / Ag (~ 0.5 USD per 1 gram)
Our top 10 opens with silver, called argentum in Latin. Silver has been known to mankind since ancient times because it can be found in nature in the form of nuggets, and it does not require any chemical processes to obtain. The metallic color itself is named after Argentum - silver.
Silver is a noble metal with a melting point of 962 degrees Celsius. It has the highest thermal conductivity of all known metals. It is widely used in the production of electrical engineering and electrical equipment, jewelry, and is included in the composition of various high-tech alloys used in a wide variety of areas of human activity.
Silver has long been known for its antibacterial properties; it can be used to destroy about 700 types of different bacteria.
Even on space stations, all water is purified with silver, and some housewives throw silver coins into milk to extend its shelf life.
Ruthenium/Ru (~2 USD per 1 gram)
Next on our list is ruthenium. Translated from Latin, its name means Russia or Rus'. And this is not surprising, because this chemical element was first discovered by chemist Klaus Karl from Kazan University in 1844.
Ruthenium is mined from platinum group metal ores and has similar physical properties to them. Also, a considerable amount of ruthenium is extracted from fission fragments of nuclear materials: plutonium and uranium.
Its melting point is 2334 degrees Celsius, making ruthenium a refractory metal. In its pure form, this chemical element is not used so often; it is mainly part of various alloys that are used in many areas of human activity. There are a number of isotopes of ruthenium that are produced as a result of radioactive reactions. For example, ruthenium 106, which is used in the treatment of cancer.
Rhodium
Another “brother” of palladium, obtained by Wollaston from platinum ores. Rhodium perfectly reflects electromagnetic radiation, has not only a high melting point (1966 ° C), but also antioxidant properties, high density and hardness, and a characteristic shine.
Only 30 tons of this metal are mined per year, mainly in Russia, South Africa, Canada and Colombia, and are used in the automotive industry to create headlights and mirrors, in nuclear energy for the production of equipment and reactors, in electroplating and jewelry, for the final processing of coatings and products. You can buy one gram of rhodium for 30 USD, although some sources claim that the price of the metal reaches 200 USD.
Scandium / Sc (~ 3-4 USD per 1 gram)
Our top continues with the most expensive rare earth metal - scandium. It got its name from the Scandinavian peninsula where it was discovered by Swedish scientist Lars Nilsson in 1879. Scandium is a light, silvery metal with a slight yellow tint. The melting point of this chemical element is 1541 degrees Celsius. It is obtained by processing many ores. Scandium is widely used in various fields of human activity: medicine (creation of the most advanced dentures), electronics (production of super-computers), nuclear energy, creation of solar panels, metallurgy (production of super-strong alloys) and much more.
The largest reserves of scandium-rich minerals are found in Norway and Madagascar. However, the largest producers of this metal are Russia and China.
Platinum
Precious metal, dense but soft, perfectly amenable to processing. Platinum jewelry, coins, orders and medals are of particular value and beauty.
Over the years, this metal was used by counterfeiters to create supposedly jewelry alloys. Today, platinum is also used in the automotive industry, for the production of electronics, aerotechnics, medicine, chemistry, and the weapons industry.
The metal has refractoriness, high conductivity, and resistance to external influences. In recent years, the cost of platinum has decreased slightly and is approximately 30-40 USD per gram.
Rhenium / Re (~ 4-7 USD per 1 gram)
In seventh place on our list is Renius. It is one of the rarest natural chemical elements on Earth. It was discovered in 1925 in Germany by two chemist spouses named Noddack. This metal has a characteristic shiny silver color. Rhenium is extracted mainly from molybdenum concentrates. To obtain just 100 grams of rhenium, you will need to spend approximately 200 tons of copper and molybdenum ore. Its melting point is 3459 degrees Celsius. In terms of refractoriness, it is second only to tungsten.
The largest deposit of Rhenium and at the same time the producer is the country of Chile, also the leading countries are the USA and Russia. The refractoriness of this metal is of great interest in various fields. Rhenium is used in electronics, medicine, metallurgy, and is used as a catalyst.
Rhenium is the rarest natural metal on our planet.
Rating of investments in the ten most expensive metals in the world
Below we provide a list of the most expensive metals with a brief description of their properties and advantages for investment:
- California 252.
Just one gram of this substance has a value of $10 million. This fantastic price is explained by the fact that there are only 8 grams of this metal on Earth, obtained using a complex and expensive laboratory method. Californian 252 has healing properties due to the abnormally high number of neutrons in the nucleus of the atom. - Osmium 187.
It is mined only in Kazakhstan. One gram is valued at more than $10,000. The most complex technologies are used for extraction, and the process itself can take years. The metal is included in the Guinness Book of Records. It is incredibly dense. - Platinum.
One gram of platinum costs much less than in the first two cases, but the metal still confidently occupies third place in our ranking. - Gold.
Investments in gold are the most popular. For several millennia, it has been a reliable anti-crisis asset, capable of accumulating, preserving and increasing wealth. There is much more gold in nature than the three previous metals. The leaders among gold-mining countries are China, South Africa, the USA and Australia. - Rhodium.
Its deposits suitable for industrial development are found in only four countries - Colombia, South Africa, Russia and China. Rhodium is used in automobile fuel catalysts that reduce harmful emissions from internal combustion engines. - Palladium.
Investing in palladium is profitable as it has both jewelry and industrial applications. It is more affordable, but less often used in jewelry than gold and silver. - Iridium.
Its deposits are found only in South Africa. - Osmium.
It is an iridium alloy produced in a laboratory with the inclusion of other components. - Rhenium.
It is a rare earth element and is present on the metal market in minimal quantities. - Scandium.
Although it is included in this rating, it is significantly inferior to all previous ones in its value.
Palladium / Pd (~ 19 USD per 1 gram)
Next on our list of the 10 most expensive metals is palladium. It was discovered by chemist William Wollaston in 1803, who was able to isolate the element from platinum ore. Palladium indirectly received its name in honor of one of the most revered goddesses in the myths of ancient Greece, Pallas Athena.
Palladium is a heavy metal with a silvery tint. Its production occurs as a result of the processing of several ores: copper, nickel and silver. The melting point of palladium is 1555 degrees Celsius. The largest deposits of this chemical element are in Russia, which is also the largest supplier of palladium in the world. This metal is used in the engineering industry (automotive catalysts), jewelry, medicine, electronics, and the production of high-precision instruments. Palladium is a generally recognized precious metal, traded on world exchanges. Most of the medals awarded to outstanding scientists and athletes are made from it.
What affects the price of metal?
The price of metal is determined based on the results of trading. Transactions are carried out on the stock exchange, which serves as a kind of marketplace for buyers and sellers. Anyone involved in metal products can monitor price changes in real time.
There are several exchange platforms in the world:
- in London;
- in Tokyo;
- in Shanghai and other cities.
The number of deposits of a particular substance on the planet is of great importance in determining the cost of metals. In addition to the common iron ore and aluminum, rare ones are also found. An increase in demand for such products increases their price. Let's find out how much the most expensive metals cost.
Rhodium / Rh (~ 27 USD per 1 gram)
Fifth place on our list is Rhodium. Its melting point is 1966 degrees Celsius. Rhodium has a characteristic silvery luster and is a hard metal. The main countries producing rhodium are South Africa and Canada, but the mineral resources of Russia are also rich in it. This metal is mainly used as a catalyst in many industrial fields; rhodium is also actively used in jewelry, improving the mechanical properties of precious metals by rhodium treatment and giving them additional shine. The total amount of rhodium mined per year does not exceed several tens of tons.
Artificial elements:
Californium
$6,500,000 per gram
There are several isotopes of californium, with californium-252 having the greatest practical application. Radioactive californium stands apart even among the most expensive metals. This is explained both by its huge price and special properties. The energy released by one gram of californium is comparable to the power of a conventional nuclear reactor.
Several milligrams of the metal are produced annually, and the total amount of Californian produced over all years does not exceed 5 grams. The main application is scientific research in the field of nuclear physics and medicine.
Platinum / (~ 30 USD per 1 gram)
Despite the fact that platinum has long been valued more than gold, in recent years this precious metal has lost its position a little and let gold pass ahead. The first recorded mentions of platinum were associated with the conquistadors, who found it among the indigenous tribes of South America. Before the value of platinum was universally recognized, counterfeiters often diluted it with gold to create alloys. Now such coins are of great value to collectors.
The name of this chemical element is translated from Latin as a diminutive form of the word silver. The melting point of platinum is 2041.4 degrees Celsius, clearly indicating refractoriness. Main production countries: South Africa, the United States of America, Russia and Zimbabwe. Platinum, its alloys and derivatives are actively used in medicine, the production of high-tech and high-precision equipment, and jewelry.
The largest platinum nugget in history was discovered in 1843 in Russia in the Urals. It was named “Russia” and its weight was as much as 9 kilograms 635 grams.
Unfortunately, this giant has not survived to this day and was melted down.
Prospects for investment in precious metals
The most popular in our time, due to its high profitability, stability and prevalence, are investments in precious metals. Even if fiat currencies become completely worthless, an asset such as gold and silver or palladium and platinum will help to stay afloat. Their value in the investment market is constantly increasing. Large institutional investors, as well as state and commercial banks, always remain winners, despite any economic crisis, due to constant investments in precious metals and growing own gold and foreign exchange reserves.
For investments in precious metals to be most effective, it is necessary to first study the market, consider the prospects of certain metal assets, and familiarize yourself with expert forecasts. Each instrument is traded under certain conditions and assumes the presence of patterns of price volatility related to it.
Before investing significantly in any of them, for example, in gold or silver, it is necessary to assess the prospects of such investments. The main stock, currency and commodity market indices relating to oil, platinum group metals, gold and silver are today stable and consistently maintain positive values.
Iridium / Ir (~ 35 USD per 1 gram)
Iridium opens the top three on our list. It has a melting point of 2466 degrees Celsius and is considered a refractory metal. Iridium has a characteristic white-silver color. This metal earned its name due to the variety of colors of its salts and is translated from ancient Greek as rainbow.
Pure iridium is very fragile and does not tolerate any mechanical treatment. The world's largest reserves are located in the depths of Russia, Canada and South Africa. A little over 2 tons of iridium are mined worldwide per year. Nuclear isomers of this metal are used as a source of electricity, and iridium can be found in fountain ink pens, engine spark plugs, glass blowing mouthpieces, and many other manufacturing applications.
Iridium
A valuable metal characterized by a high melting point, corrosion resistance, hardness and brittleness at the same time. Iridium is not used in its pure form, but is added to other metals to produce dense and hard alloys.
Used to create high-precision production equipment and spark plugs in electric motors, for the manufacture of surgical instruments, as well as in biomedicine, the chemical industry, dentistry, aeronautical engineering, etc. Iridium is also used to make the tips of the most expensive fountain pens and ink pens.
The world metallurgy receives approximately 1-2 tons of iridium per year, and the cost of 1 gram of metal is, according to various sources, from 15 to 30 USD.
Gold/Au (~40 USD per 1 gram)
If you ask what is the most expensive precious metal in the world, most people will name gold. Indeed, aurum, as it is called in Latin, is one of the most famous precious metals on planet Earth. In its pure form, gold has a yellow color without red impurities. Its melting point is 1064.18 degrees Celsius. Gold mining began back in the Bronze Age, so it is not possible to name the discoverer of this treasure of the Earth’s bowels. The undisputed leaders in gold production are China, Australia, the USA and Russia. It is actively used in electronic manufacturing, dentistry, jewelry, in the production of ultra-precision instruments and the food industry.
The flexibility of gold is well known; it can even be used to create threads for sewing clothes. One hundred grams of gold can be stretched over approximately 282 kilometers.
One of the largest gold nuggets weighing about 73 kilograms was found in 1869 in Australia. It is noteworthy that it was only a few centimeters underground.
Interesting facts: what is even more valuable than gold?
Some interesting facts: many different things cost more than gold, for example, rhinoceros horn, which can be bought for $110 per gram. This price is due to the fact that it is extremely difficult to obtain, and there are fewer and fewer animals. But the value of the horn can also be called overestimated, because it mainly consists of keratin, which is also found in human hair.
Rhinoceros
Antimatter
Antimatter is the most unstable substance and is extremely difficult to produce. It is a very powerful substance that allows you to produce a lot of energy. It has not been fully studied. Its estimated value reaches 62 trillion dollars per gram.
Antimatter
Diamond
A diamond is a perfectly crafted and polished diamond. It has perfect shine, perfect shape, perfect look. The cost per gram reaches 50 thousand dollars or more than 3 million rubles.
Diamond
Plutonium
It is a rather expensive substance due to the overly complex creation process. It is also extremely important because it is used for the manufacture of nuclear weapons and in nuclear power plants.
Plutonium
