Our planet is rich in various types of minerals. The most valuable and practical of these are, of course, metals. Each of them is unique in its structure, composition and appearance. Experts divide all metals into natural and artificially derived ones. 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 propose to find out top 10 most expensive metals in the world, the price per gram is 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 construction of innovative technology (for example, laser), space and aircraft. He also did not pass by the sports sphere - the highest quality and most expensive equipment for golf, hockey and bike rides is made exclusively from scandium. Speaking of the name, this metal was first discovered in the 19th century by the Swedish chemist Lars Nilsson, who named his find after Scandinavia. The cost of one gram of such metal is about USD 3-4.
9. Rhenium - $ 5
This silvery white metal is considered to be the rarest and most sought-after element in the world. Its peculiarity lies in one of the highest melting temperatures 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 volatile and ranges from 2.5 to 5 conventional units per gram.
8. Osmium - $ 12-15
Osmium got its name for a reason. 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 fountain pens, souvenirs and much more. Iridium jewelry, by the way, practically does not wear out and shines impeccably. Also, the metal is in demand in the manufacture of surgical instruments. It is worth noting that it is rarely used by itself: 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 include flexibility, softness, low melting point, resistance to corrosion and tarnishing. The main use of this silvery-white metal is in the jewelry industry.Craftsmen 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. per gram.
5. Rhodium - $ 30-45
Rhodium is a hard noble metal with powerful reflective properties, oxidation and corrosion resistance. I also consider it one of the rarest elements - only 30 tons of this material are mined all over the world per year. 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 located in Russia, Canada and South Africa. The cost of valuable platinum metal ranges from $ 30 to $ 45 per gram.
4. Gold - $ 35-45
Without a doubt, gold is the most popular precious metal in the world. It won its fame and demand due to its strength, uniformity and malleability. It is important to know that gold is one of the few metals found exclusively in pure form. Its fields of application are jewelry, dentistry, and the electronics industry. The USA, China and Australia are the leaders in gold mining. The cost of a gram of gold on the world market is 35-45 conventional units.
3. Platinum - $ 40-50
The top three are opened by a noble white-silver metal - platinum. In nature, it occurs only as a natural alloy with other metals: noble and base. Artificial elimination of platinum is a very laborious, resource-intensive and time-consuming process, which determines its price. This metal is distinguished by its special brilliance and plasticity, which is why it is actively used in the jewelry, arms, and medical industries. $ 40-50 is the price per gram of platinum. Many people mistakenly consider platinum to be the most expensive metal.
2. Osmium-187 - $ 10,000
Osmium-187 is a rare artificially derived black powder with a violet tint, which belongs to complex isotopes. It is considered the most durable metal on Earth, despite the fact that it can be crushed into small particles with an ordinary mortar. 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 cost is estimated at 200 thousand US dollars, on the market - 10 thousand USD. per gram.
1. The most expensive metal in the world California-252 - $ 10,000,000
There is no metal on earth today that would cost more, this record was recorded in the Guinness Book. It is one of the isotopes of california. Its fabulous price, which is 10 million US dollars per gram, is fully justified: the total world supply of this amazing element is 8 grams, and the annual production is 30-40 micrograms. It is obtained by the most complicated and long-term work in laboratory conditions. But the main value of California-252 is its incredible energy, comparable to the energy of average nuclear reactor... The use of this unique metal has spread to the fields of medicine and nuclear physics.