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