For some reason, a stereotype has recently been spreading among the population that the most expensive metals in the world are those from which jewelry is made. However, how much truth is in this statement? Are there metals in the world more expensive than gold and platinum? The answer is unequivocal: yes. Many of them are not used in jewelry, so their importance and high cost are not known to most people. Nevertheless, they are successfully used in electronics, mechanical engineering and even medicine. The exchange rate of precious metals changes daily, as does the currency, so it is quite expected that some people invest in them and keep their funds in the form of bullion or other products. Considering that the resources of our planet are not infinite, such a step is far-sighted and profitable. So what are the most expensive metals in the world?
Silver
According to the latest data, the price per gram of silver is $0.53. This metal can be considered the most budgetary of the precious ones. The widespread use of silver is due to the fact that in ancient times it was possible to find many of its deposits in its pure form. That is, the extraction of this metal was not associated with smelting from ores, which means that it was as easy and inexpensive as possible. And althougha lot of time has passed, silver does not lose its usefulness for mankind. In its pure form, it is used as a conductor (of all metals, it transmits electric current and heat best of all). The scope of silver is simply colossal: medicine, military industry, electronics, jewelry, mechanical engineering. In this regard, the reserves of this metal are now being scooped out at a tremendous speed.
Silver is often compared to gold. And, despite the lower price, the first metal wins in terms of the breadth of application and the physical properties that determine it.
To reduce the price of silver jewelry and increase the practicality of such jewelry, they are made of alloys. Each of them has its own sample, depending on the percentage of the metal itself, and its purpose.
- 999th and 1000th samples are especially popular among residents of Japan. They believe in the mystical properties of such a metal and the highest grace that its owner will receive.
- 960 is used in the jewelry industry. However, such products cannot be considered practical or durable, they are quickly overwritten, lose their luster or even change shape.
- 925 silver is also called sterling. Outwardly, it looks like pure metal, but it is much more comfortable to wear and does not require great care.
- 916 and lower alloys are used to make cutlery, locks for products with a higher silver content, or jewelry that has a reddish or yellowish tint.
Despite its low price, silver is considered one of the most expensive metals in the world due to its unique properties and wide range of applications.
Ruthenium
The price per gram of ruthenium is $6.59. For the first time, the metal was found in Russia, after the Latin name of which it was named. Ruthenium belongs to the group of platinum metals and is the rarest of them. Together with its closest neighbors, it is mined in the Republic of South Africa, Canada and Russia.
The largest consumption is in the electronics industry. Also, jewelry is not complete without it. Ruthenium is a good reinforcing element, which significantly increases the strength of the product, and hence its service life. In medicine, its compounds are used to treat malignant tumors and skin defects. In the chemical industry, ruthenium plays the role of a catalyst, and is also used due to its unique feature of not reacting with other substances and its high melting point (about 2000 degrees).
The color of the metal may vary depending on the methods of mining and processing, but still fluctuates in a small range - from a light silvery hue with a noticeable sheen to a matte gray.
Osmium
Osmium costs almost twice as much as ruthenium - $12.86. It got its name for its inherent unpleasant smell (a mixture of bleach and garlic). It is based on the Greek word osme. It has not yet been found in its pure form, but mixed with other metalsplatinum group completely. In South Africa, Canada, the United States and Colombia, it is extracted from minerals. The content of osmium in the lithosphere is very small, and at the same time, it is also scattered, and not collected in small deposits. Therefore, its extraction is a laborious and costly process.
The peculiarity of osmium lies in its high density, and, accordingly, in mass. It is the heaviest metal in the world. An osmium cube with a side of eight centimeters will weigh more than a ten-liter bucket of water. Such properties could not help but pay attention to rocket scientists, military technicians, doctors and chemists. The latter take advantage of the fact that this metal is very stable and hardly reacts. Doctors use it to create pacemakers.
Platinum
One gram of platinum will cost $30.77. And, despite the opinion of the majority, this substance is not the most expensive precious metal in the world. Platinum has been known to the world for quite a long time, but it was not immediately used. It's all about processing difficulties.
Now it is widely used in the jewelry industry, electronics, automotive, chemical synthesis and as an investment base. South Africa is the main supplier of platinum.
Gold
One gram of gold costs $42.43. It is almost the most famous precious metal in the world. Its uniqueness lies in its durability and amazing ability to maintain a good appearance for many years. Thisdue to such popularity of gold among jewelers.
Like silver, gold has its hallmarks. The most profitable for the purchase are jewelry made of gold 585. The price of such products is quite affordable, and the appearance does not disappoint. Although gold used to be the most expensive metal in the world, this test is not suitable for investment. The money from the purchase will not be returned in the original amount, because it will be evaluated as scrap. But gold bars are a great and long-term way to invest.
Rhodium
Rhodium is the rarest and most expensive metal on Earth, with the exception of those that are mined artificially in the laboratory. The price for one gram is $59.48. Rhodium can be called an aristocrat among metals. As you can see, this metal is more expensive than platinum and gold. We can say that rhodium destroys stereotypes. I mine only a few hundred kilograms a year.
It is famous for its hardness and striking brilliance. Due to the high cost of this substance, it is used only where there is nothing to notice. For example, in mechanical engineering, as a catalyst or a component of reflectors and headlights. Also, thanks to some oxides of rhodium, you can get black-colored gold, which is actively used in jewelry. Of course, the price for such products will be appropriate, because they were created using the most expensive metal in the world.
