What can a fabulously expensive thing be made of? The answer to this question can be found in our today's top ten, where are collected the most expensive materials in the world.
Without exception, all participants in the Top 10 are distinguished by their low prevalence on Earth and unique properties. In addition, some materials are obtained exclusively in laboratory conditions as a result of complex and expensive manipulations.
10. Gold ($ 56 per gram)
There is really little gold on Earth, its content in the earth's crust is 0.5-5 μg / kg. Over the entire period of its existence, mankind has managed to extract about 161 thousand tons of the noble metal. If all this gold is fused together, then you can get a cube with an edge of about 20 meters.
9. Rhodium ($ 58 per gram)
The noble metal was discovered in 1803 during work with native platinum. Less than 30 tons of this material are mined every year in the world, which contributes to its high cost. There are metal deposits in Russia, South Africa, Canada and Colombia.
8. Platinum ($ 60 per gram)
Ancient Indian civilizations have used platinum since time immemorial. But the Europeans got acquainted with this metal only in the middle of the 16th century. More than 90% of the world's platinum reserves are concentrated in South Africa, Russia, the USA, Zimbabwe and China.
7. Rhino horn ($ 110 per gram)
In a rhinoceros, the horn is not a bone, but a very densely grown bristle. In Chinese medicine, the horn is credited with miraculous properties and the ability to heal any ailment. Human faith in the extraordinary capabilities of the horn cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of rhinos and more than once put the view on the brink of extinction.
6. Plutonium ($ 4000 per gram)
The fragile, radioactive silvery-white metal is used in the manufacture of nuclear weapons, fuel and as a source of energy for spacecraft. Plutonium is obtained from enriched and natural uranium. According to various estimates, the total world reserves of plutonium are about 1200 tons.
5. Painite ($ 9000 per gram)
The rare mineral got its name in honor of the discoverer, the mineralogist Arthur Payne. Until 2005, there were only 25 known painite crystals worldwide. However, then deposits were discovered in Burma, but the proven reserves are also small.
4. Taaffeite ($ 20,000 per gram or $ 4000 per carat)
A very rare and expensive mineral, discovered in 1945 by Count Taaffe. The precious lilac stone is a million times rarer than diamonds. This material is used exclusively in jewelry.
3. Diamond ($ 55,000 per gram)
The cut maximizes the natural brilliance of a seemingly unremarkable diamond, transforming it into an incredibly valuable diamond. The cost of a diamond is estimated according to the "4 C" system: clarity (clarity), color (stone color), carat (weight), cut (cut quality).
2. California ($ 27,000,000 per gram)
The most expensive metal in the world, a radioactive chemical element was artificially obtained in 1950 at the University of California, Berkeley. The process of making California is incredibly expensive. But the unique properties of the element make it possible to use it in neutron activation analysis, in the most complex experiments to study nuclear fission, in radiation therapy of tumors.
1. Antimatter ($ 25 million per gram)
It is still difficult to assess the applied value of the most expensive material in the world, but scientists unequivocally believe that humanity is simply obliged to learn how to “extract” antimatter, forcing it to work for its own good. True, scientists have managed to "catch" so far a maximum of 309 antiprotons, which lasted only 15 minutes.