Expensive materials earn their high cost because they are

rare, in high demand, or difficult to produce. The worth of

expensive substances fluctuates with increased availability or

decreased demand. The following list of the most expensive

materials in the world include elements, gems, and non-

naturally occurring materials.

Plutonium is primarily derived from uranium that has been used in nuclear reactions.

Nuclear power plants often use the plutonium from the reactions to continue the

nuclear process, which results in a substantial amount of nuclear fission energy.

Its scarcity along with its usefulness for nuclear applications drives the high price.

Approximately $4,000 per gram

Painite is a rare mineral and was once

considered the rarest mineral in the world.

Recent discoveries of painite in the Mogok

area of Myanmar, however, point to the

possible reduction in its scarcity.

Painite is highly sought after for its use in

crystal healing therapies.

Approximately $9,000 per gram

Taaffeite is a rare gemstone that ranges in color from red to purple,

although less than ten red stones exist. It is so rare that the total

amount of taaffeite discovered would fill approximately half a cup.

Approximately $20,000 per gram

Tritium forms naturally through cosmic radiation encountering the atmosphere. It

can be created through nuclear technology since it’s one of the byproducts of

nuclear power creation. Tritium produces a glow that's primarily applied in exit

signs, watches, and other illuminated products.

Tritium is high in price due to heavy demand.

Approximately $30,000 per gram

Diamonds form through intense pressure and heat, which transform

carbon molecules into diamonds.

Diamonds are the most expensive gemstone, despite the fact that they're

not the rarest on earth, but because they are in such high demand.

Approximately $55,000 per gram

Californium is a rare earth metal that

doesn't occur naturally. It is highly

radioactive and extremely toxic to organic

life. Californium is used to detect gold,

platinum, and moisture gauges for oil

wells. It is most useful for its ability to

assist the start of nuclear fission.

Approximately $27 million per gram

Antimatter requires some of the most advanced technology available in

order to create small amounts. Many people were introduced to the idea

of antimatter through science fiction.

The technology involved in creating such small amounts makes this

material extremely expensive.

Approximately $6.25 trillion per gram

William Henry is an American luxury brand devoted to collections of jewelry that integrate

form and function into exquisite and unique pieces. Collections include writing instruments,

money clips, cuff links, golf tools, and more. William Henry has proudly grown into one of

the most admired and sought after brands in the world of luxury for men.

Visit William Henry online at www.williamhenry.com.

List by Kent Tukeli for TheRichest.com

http://www.therichest.com/luxury/most-expensive/the-15-most-expensive-

materials-in-the-world/?view=all

Slide 3: Image by Department of Energy [Public domain], via Wikimedia

Commons

Slide 4: Image by Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0 [CC BY-SA 3.0

(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Slide 5: Image by DonGuennie (G-Empire The World Of Gems) (Own work

http://www.g-empire.de) [CC BY-SA 3.0

(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons