Our planet is rich in various types of minerals. The most valuable and practical of them are, of course, metals. Each of them is unique in its structure, composition and appearance. Specialists divide all metals into natural and artificially derived. Paradoxically, artificial materials are many times more expensive than natural ones. This is explained, first of all, by the complexity of the technological process of their manufacture.
Today we suggest finding out top 10 most expensive metals in the world, the price per gram is given in US dollars as of 2018.
10. Scandium - $ 3-4
Scandium, being one of the highest strength metals on Earth, has found wide application in various industrial fields: it is used in robotics, the structure of innovative equipment (for example, laser), space and aircraft. He did not pass over the sports sector either - the most high-quality and expensive equipment for golf, hockey and a bike ride is made exclusively from scandium. Speaking of the name: for the first time this metal was discovered in the 19th century by the Swedish chemist Lars Nilson, who named his find in honor of Scandinavia. The cost of one gram of such metal is about 3-4 US dollars.
9. Rhenium - $ 5
This silver-white metal is rightfully considered the rarest and most sought-after element in the world. Its peculiarity lies in one of the highest melting points and a high degree of density. The main consumers of this metal are the nuclear, chemical and electronic industries. The price of rhenium is very unstable and ranges from 2.5 to 5 conventional units per gram.
8. Osmium - $ 12-15
Osmium did not just get its name. Translated from Greek, "Osme" means "smell." The question arises - what is the connection? The fact is that this metal really has a very specific and pungent odor, reminiscent of a mixture of chlorine and garlic. As for the physical qualities of osmium, everything here is also very interesting: despite its high strength, it is very fragile. This element is used mainly in the chemical industry and pharmacology. The cost of a gram of this "miracle metal" is 12-15 dollars.
7. Iridium - $ 16-18
Corrosion resistance is the “calling card” of this metal. With its high strength, high melting point and durability, iridium is widely used in the creation of jewelry, expensive pens, souvenirs and much more. Jewelry from iridium, by the way, practically does not wear out and perfectly shine. Also, metal is in demand in the manufacture of surgical instruments. It is worth noting that in itself it is rarely used: most often alloys are made from it. $ 16-18 per gram is the approximate price of iridium.
6. Palladium - $ 25-30
Palladium belongs to the group of platinum metals. Its main characteristics are flexibility, softness, low melting point, resistance to corrosion and tarnishing. The main direction of using this silver-white metal is the jewelry industry. Masters appreciate palladium for its flexibility and lightness, which allows them to create the most amazing pieces of jewelry from it. The cost of palladium is 25-30 cu per gram.
5. Rhodium - $ 30-45
Rhodium is a solid noble metal with powerful reflective properties, resistance to oxidation and corrosion. I also consider it one of the rarest elements - in a year only 30 tons of this material are mined all over the world. In the automotive industry it is used for the manufacture of mirrors and headlights, in the jewelry industry - for the final processing of the product. The largest deposits are in Russia, Canada and South Africa. The cost of valuable platinum metal ranges from 30 to 45 dollars per gram.
4. Gold - $ 35-45
Without a doubt, gold is the most popular noble metal in the whole world. It gained its fame and relevance due to its strength, uniformity and malleability. It is important to know that gold is one of the few metals found exclusively in its pure form. Its fields of application are jewelry, dentistry, and the electronics industry. The USA, China and Australia are leaders in gold mining. The cost of a gram of gold in the world market is 35-45 conventional units.
3. Platinum - $ 40-50
The three leaders are opened by a noble white-silver metal - platinum. In nature, it is found only as a natural alloy with other metals: noble and base. Artificial elimination of platinum is a very laborious, resource-intensive and long process, which determines the price for it. This metal is distinguished by its special luster and ductility, which is why it is actively used in the jewelry, weapons, and medical industries. 40-50 dollars - the price per gram of platinum. Many mistakenly consider platinum the most expensive metal.
2. Osmium-187 - $ 10,000
Osmium-187 is the rarest artificially produced black powder with a violet hue, which refers to complex isotopes. It is considered the most durable metal on Earth, despite the fact that it can be crushed with an ordinary mortar into small particles. Osmium-187 is of great importance in the chemical industry: it is used as a catalyst for various kinds of chemical reactions. Kazakhstan is the first and only country supplying this metal to the world market. In the Guinness Book of Records, its value is estimated at 200 thousand US dollars, in the market –10 thousand cu per gram.
1. The most expensive metal in the world, California-252 - $ 10 million
There is no metal on earth today that would cost more; this record is recorded in the Guinness Book. It is one of the isotopes of California. Its fabulous price, which amounts to 10 million US dollars per gram, is quite justified: the total world supply of this amazing element is 8 grams, and the annual production is 30-40 micrograms. Get it through the most difficult and long-term work in the laboratory. But the main value of California-252 is its incredible energy, comparable to the energy of an average nuclear reactor. The use of this unique metal has spread to the fields of medicine and nuclear physics.
