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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.
Silver
One of the most common natural metals, which is mined in the form of pure nuggets. It is valued for its qualities - the highest thermal and electrical conductivity, the ability to destroy about 700 varieties of harmful microorganisms. Melting point - 962°C.
Areas of use: manufacturing of electrical equipment and high-precision electronics, dental prostheses, jewelry, cleaning filters.
As a high-tech additive, silver is included in various alloys to create materials that are more durable and resistant to external influences. The cost of 1 gram of silver is from 0.5 to 1 USD.
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.
Platinum group metals
The London fixing also determines the current price of palladium. This element, along with aurum, argentum and platinum, belongs to liquid assets.
Today, bank deposits can be made not only in money, but also in the form of one of four precious metals
Since 2021, palladium has begun to rise in price. In the first half of 2020, its value increased by 45%. Today the market price fluctuates around $72. Previously, commodities were relatively inexpensive and only silver was superior in liquid assets. Today, palladium has more than doubled the value of platinum and is valued more expensive than gold, which recently recorded a historical high.
Other platinum group metals are also classified as precious, but Russian banks do not accept them. They are also used infrequently in the manufacture of jewelry, being useful rather due to their physical properties. Cost of platinum metals in USD per 1 g:
- Osmium – 12.86;
- Rhodium – 262;
- Ruthenium – 8.20;
- Iridium – 47.90.
Platinum metals are widely used in science, medicine and the automotive industry. The meter and kilogram standards are made from platinum-iridium alloy.
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.
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.
The most expensive metals in the world are isotopes
There are many expensive isotopes, but only two are of particular interest.
Californium
This isotope is the most expensive and most radioactive substance on earth. It is used for scientific research only. Californium was first isolated in 1950, but it was synthesized in salt only in 1958.
The isotope is especially effective in the treatment of cancer tumors. The cost of California per gram is 25 million dollars or 1.7 billion rubles. However, it should be clarified that in one year no more than four hundredths of a gram is synthesized. And it is produced only in two countries - Russia and America.
In the entire history of mankind, only 5 grams of this isotope have been created.
Californian as salt
Osmium-187
It is a difficult to obtain isotope. The first time after the discovery of the metal, in order to obtain one gram of osmium-187, 9 months of hard work were necessary.
It is used as a catalyst for chemical reactions, for precision measuring instruments and in medical research.
The price for one gram of osmium-187 is 200 thousand dollars or 13 thousand rubles.
Osmium-187
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.
Top 7 most expensive metals in the world
Top 7
Metal ruthenium
In seventh place is Ruthenium. This metal was discovered in 1844 by Russian scientist Karl Klaus. It is part of the platinum group of metals.
Has a bright gray color. Before use, the metal is subjected to complex chemical treatment.
Areas of application for this metal: electronics, addition to alloys to increase hardness, jewelry production. Its cost is $15 per 1 gram.
Top 6
Osmium metal
Sixth place was assigned to Osmium. This metal does not exist in nature in a completely pure form; it is mined in combination with another metal - iridium.
Osmium is very dense and has a bluish-silver color. The metal also has an unpleasant odor, somewhat similar to a mixture of bleach and garlic. It was discovered in 1803 along with iridium.
Scope of application of the metal: The USA uses Osmium to produce the medicine - cortosine.
Chemical industry: metal is used in small quantities as a catalyst. Its cost is: $19 per 1 gram.
Top 5
Metal gold
In fifth place is everyone's favorite gold. So we got to the most famous precious metal - gold.
This most malleable metal is found in nature in exceptionally pure form.
Gold is homogeneous, compact and resistant to corrosion - in general, it’s perfect for jewelry and coins; you can’t find a better solution.
Scope of sun-colored metal: Jewelry industry, various parts in devices. Its cost ranges from $30-40 per 1 gram and is constantly growing!
Top 4
Metal platinum
Fourth place went to platinum. The well-known precious metal platinum takes 2nd place in our ranking.
You will not find Platinum in its pure form in nature, because it is always found in alloys with other metals: both noble and not.
Its areas of application: jewelry industry, dentistry, aeronautics and weapons production. The cost of this metal: $70 per 1 gram.
Top 3
Metal rhodium
In third place is the metal rhodium, famous in jewelry. A silvery, shiny metal that has strong reflective properties.
Areas of application: automotive industry - production of headlights and mirrors, as well as final processing of jewelry. Its cost is $225 per 1 gram.
Top 2
Metal isotope osmium 187
The second place is confidently occupied by the isotope osmium-187. The isotope is so rare that no country except Kazakhstan sells it on the world market.
But obtaining it does not take much, not less than 9 months, and this work is not easy - separating isotopes is a very labor-intensive task.
Outwardly, it looks like a black powder with a purple tint and is the densest substance on our planet (although it is also fragile).
$200,000 per gram is exactly how much this metal costs. It was first obtained by a scientist from England by dissolving platinum in a mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acids.
Under normal conditions, this metal is practically never found, and if it is found, it is in the form of a powder. It is very difficult to find whole pieces of it.
This metal has the 76th serial number in the periodic table, and is not only very expensive, but also the densest (about 22.61 g/cm3).
Scope of application: used as a catalyst for chemical reactions, for precision measuring instruments, and in medical research.
Top 1
Californian metal
The most expensive metal in the world is californium (Cf) – the Guinness Book of Records will help you verify this.
Californium was artificially obtained in 1950 at the University of California at Berkeley - hence the name.
Californium is extracted from the products of long-term irradiation of plutonium with neutrons in a nuclear reactor.
The most expensive metal can be found in the periodic table at No. 98. Application: Most often, California (or rather its isotope 252Cf - (there are 17 isotopes of California)) is used as a powerful source of neutrons, for example, in radiation therapy of tumors.
This metal is also widely used in experiments studying spontaneous nuclear fission.
By the way, this metal may well replace a nuclear reactor! Needless to say, the metal is truly rare: global production of California-252 is only a few tens of milligrams per year. The cost of the metal is colossal: $6,500,000 per 1 gram.
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.
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.
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.
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.
How much do precious jewelry metals cost?
The rest of the TOP is occupied by natural precious metals, the extraction of which is carried out in natural deposits. Almost all of them are used in the jewelry industry, but only three materials are considered the most suitable. The list next to the name shows the price per gram in USD:
- silver – 0.5-1;
- gold – 50;
- platinum – 31.
When creating jewelry, precious raw materials are not used in their pure form. The amount of impurities in the composition determines the sample. The highest standard for gold and silver is 999, for platinum – 950. In the first case, the alloy contains 99.9% of the main component, in the second – 95%. Precious metals of the highest standard are too soft and are not suitable for jewelry processing. Bank bars are made from them, which, by the way, can be easily cut in half with a steel knife.
In addition to the sample, the cost of jewelry is influenced by many factors: the complexity of the design, the presence of an enhancing coating or jewelry insert, the brand’s personal markup
When buying and selling used jewelry, their condition is also taken into account: the number of scratches, the degree of contamination, etc.
Pawnshops usually purchase items made of gold, silver and platinum. They accept:
- jewelry - rings, earrings, pendants, bracelets, pendants, etc.;
- decorative items and souvenirs - lighters, cigarette cases, keys;
- tableware - silverware, luxury gold forks, spoons, knives, cups;
- investment and commemorative coins;
- cast and stamped types of bank bars;
- scrap – waste from the jewelry industry, pieces or fragments of valuable items;
- dental paraphernalia – dental crowns, bridges.
In short, you can take any item made of precious metal to a pawnshop. The amount of the deposit is determined based on current quotes. Global prices for gold and other metal assets are set according to the London fixing, which is considered the most reliable and fair. The update is done twice a day: at 10:30 and at 15:00.
