What are rare metals?

What are the most expensive metals in the world?

There are a large number of different metals on the planet, differing in rarity and difficulty of extraction. Experts in this field divide them into two groups: natural and artificially obtained in laboratory conditions. The cost of some representatives of the second group is very different from the cost of natural metals present on the world market due to the long and labor-intensive process of their production.

This ranking presents the 13 most expensive metals in the world.

13th place: India

A valuable silvery-white metal from the group of light metals with a strong shine. It was discovered in 1863 in Germany in the chemical laboratory of scientists Ferdinand Reich and Theodor Richter, who studied zinc minerals mined in the mountains of Saxony. It is soft, fusible and malleable, and can be easily cut with an ordinary knife.

Indium does not form independent deposits and is included in the ores of zinc, lead, copper and tin. Several hundred tons of this metal are produced annually. Thanks to its unique properties, it has found wide application in microelectronics, semiconductor technology, and mechanical engineering.

It is used to make mirrors, photocells, dental cements, as a sealant, and even in space technology. The price of 1 gram of indium metal is 0.5-0.7 dollars.

12th place: Silver

Known since ancient times and one of the most popular precious metals, found both in the native state and in the form of compounds. Used to coat mirrors, make jewelry and coins.

It is actively used in electronics, dentistry, photography, and has excellent electrical and thermal conductivity. The largest reserves of this metal are concentrated in Poland, China, Mexico, Chile, Australia, the USA and Canada.

The cost of a gram of silver is 0.55-1.00.

11th place: Ruthenium

A bright silvery metal, characterized by refractoriness, hardness and brittleness at the same time, is the rarest of the platinum group. It was discovered in 1844 by Professor Karl Klaus, who was engaged in research at Kazan University. The characteristics of ruthenium make it a sought-after material in the jewelry, chemical and electronics industries.

It is used for the manufacture of laboratory glassware, contacts, electrodes, and wires. In Japan and Western Europe, large amounts of ruthenium are used for the production of printed circuits and resistors, as well as for the production of chlorine and various alkalis. This metal is often used as a catalyst for many chemical reactions. Its production is entirely concentrated in South Africa.

The cost of one gram of ruthenium is 1.5-2 dollars.

10th place: Scandium

Lightweight and high-strength metal of silver color with a yellow tint. The element was first discovered in 1879 by Swedish chemist Lars Nilsson, who named it after Scandinavia. Scandium is actively used in the world of high and innovative technologies.

It is used in the construction of robots, rockets, airplanes, satellites and laser technology. Alloys of this metal are also used in the sports field - for the manufacture of high-quality equipment, such as golf clubs and high-strength bicycle frames.

The largest deposits of scandium-rich minerals are located in Norway and Madagascar. The cost of one gram of this metal is 3-4 US dollars.

9th place: Rhenium

A silvery-white metal that is one of the most sought-after, hard-to-find and rare elements in the world. It is very dense and has the third highest melting point of all its relatives. Discovered in 1925, the metal is used in the electronics and chemical industries. Its high density makes it possible to make turbine blades, jet engine nozzles, etc. from it. The price per gram of rhenium ranges from 2.4 to 5 conventional units per gram.

8th place: Osmium

A bluish-silver metal characterized by high density and brittleness. It does not exist in its pure form in the depths; it is found only in combination with another metal from the platinum group - iridium. It was discovered in 1803 by two British chemists, Smithson Tennant and William Wollaston.

The metal gets its name from the Greek word osme, which means “smell.” Osmium actually has a rather pungent and unpleasant odor, reminiscent of a mixture of garlic and bleach. This metal is mined in the Urals, Siberia, South Africa, Canada, the USA and Colombia. It is used mainly in the chemical industry as a catalyst and in pharmacology.

The price of one gram of osmium on the world market is 12-15 dollars.

7th place: Iridium

A heavy, hard and at the same time brittle metal of a silvery-white color. The world first learned about it in 1803 thanks to the British chemist S. Tennant, who also discovered the above-mentioned element. Iridium is almost never used on its own and is most often used to create alloys.

It has a high melting point, is dense and acts as the most corrosion-resistant metal. Jewelers add it to platinum because it makes it three times harder, and jewelry made from this alloy practically does not wear out and looks very beautiful.

It is also in demand in the manufacture of surgical instruments, electrical contacts, and precision laboratory scales. It is used to make tips for expensive fountain pens. Iridium is used in aerospace engineering, biomedicine, dentistry, and the chemical industry.

During the year, the world metallurgy consumes approximately one ton of this metal. The main iridium deposit is located in South Africa. Its cost is 16-18 dollars per 1 gram.

6th place: Palladium

A lightweight, flexible silver-white metal from the platinum group. It is very plastic, fusible, polishes well, does not tarnish and is quite resistant to corrosion. It was discovered in 1803 by British chemist William Wollaston, who separated the unfamiliar metal from platinum ore that arrived from South America.

Today, palladium is becoming increasingly popular among jewelers, since its low price, availability and lightness allow designers to create the most daring jewelry creations from it, belonging to various price categories and styles. Platinum metal is widely used in cleaning devices and for anti-corrosion coatings.

The largest amount of this element comes to world markets from Russia, but there are also large deposits in South Africa. The cost of palladium is 25-30 USD. for one gram.

5th place: Rhodium

A hard, noble metal from the platinum group, silver in color, with strong reflective properties. It is very hard and resistant to high temperatures and oxidation. It was discovered in 1803 in England by chemist William Wollaston while working with native platinum. Rhodium is considered a rare element - about 30 tons of this metal are mined annually.

The largest deposits are located in Russia, South Africa, Colombia and Canada. Approximately 80% of rhodium serves as a catalyst in the automotive and chemical industries. It is used to make mirrors and headlights for cars, and in jewelry it is used during the final processing of products. The main advantage of rhodium is its participation in the production of nuclear reactors.

The cost of valuable platinum metal ranges from 30-45 dollars per 1 gram.

4th place: Gold

The main precious metal, which in nature is found exclusively in its pure form. It is very strong, homogeneous, resistant to corrosion and is considered the most malleable.

Due to its durability and ductility, gold has been the most popular precious metal for many years. Widely used in jewelry, electronics, dentistry. The largest gold-mining countries are the USA, China, South Africa, and Australia.

The cost of one gram of gold on the world market is 35-45 USD.

3rd place: Platinum

A noble metal of silvery-white color with a special shine, found in nature only as a natural alloy with other metals: noble and base. It has gained great popularity due to its inherent plasticity, density and excellent appearance.

This metal is obtained through complex chemical processes. In addition to the production of jewelry and coins, platinum is widely used in the medical and electronics industries, aeronautics, and weapons production. The largest platinum-mining countries are South Africa, Russia, USA, Zimbabwe, Canada.

The price of one gram of this metal ranges from 40-50 dollars.

2nd place: Osmium-187

A rare isotope, the extraction process of which is particularly complex and takes about nine months. It is a black, finely crystalline powder with a purple tint, which is considered the densest substance on the planet. At the same time, the Osmium-187 isotope is very fragile; it can be crushed into small particles in a regular mortar.

It is of great scientific research importance; it is used as a catalyst for chemical reactions, for the manufacture of high-precision measuring instruments and in the medical industry. Kazakhstan is the first and only state selling Osmium-187 on the world market. The market value of the unique metal is 10 thousand USD.

for 1 gram, and in the Guinness Book of Records it is valued at 200 thousand US dollars.

1st place: California-252

One of the isotopes is californium, the most expensive metal in the world, the cost of which reaches 10 million US dollars per 1 gram. Its fabulous price is fully justified - only 20-40 micrograms of this element are produced annually, and the total world supply is no more than 8 grams.

Californium-252 is created in laboratory conditions using two nuclear reactors located in the USA and Russia. This metal was first obtained at the University of California at Berkeley in 1950. The uniqueness of californium lies not only in its cost, but also in its special properties - the energy generated by one gram of the isotope is equal to the power of an average nuclear reactor.

The use of the most expensive metal in the world extends to the field of medicine and scientific research in nuclear physics. California-252 is a powerful source of neutrons, which allows it to be used to treat malignant tumors where other radiation therapy is ineffective.

The unique metal makes it possible to illuminate parts of reactors, aircraft parts, and detect damage that is usually carefully hidden from X-rays. With its help, it is possible to find reserves of gold, silver and oil deposits in the bowels of the earth.

In the photo - californium next to a nail

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The most expensive metals in the world: rating with cost indication

Investing in metals has always been profitable, especially if it is gold and silver. It is believed that gold is the most highly valued. This is not entirely true.

Prices for natural resources are determined by the market. Supply and demand play a role, as do other factors. We present the ranking of the most expensive metals in the world.

What affects the price of metal?

The price of metal is determined based on the results of trading. Transactions are carried out on the stock exchange, which serves as a kind of marketplace for buyers and sellers. Anyone involved in metal products can monitor price changes in real time.

There are several exchange platforms in the world:

• in London;
• in Tokyo;
• in Shanghai and other cities.

The number of deposits of a particular substance on the planet is of great importance in determining the cost of metals. In addition to the common iron ore and aluminum, rare ones are also found. An increase in demand for such products increases their price. Let's find out how much the most expensive metals cost.

Top most expensive metals

Substances of this group are necessary for humanity. They are widely used in the production of key products:

• alloys (used everywhere, have strength);
• tools;
• conductors of electric current.

If at the beginning of the last century humanity knew about the existence of 65 different elements of the metal series, in the 21st century another 31 were added to them. Among the most expensive in the list presented below will be those discovered by scientists several years ago.

10th place – Ag (silver), $0.5 per gram

Silver has been known to people since time immemorial. The main reason is its presence in the upper layers of the earth in the form of nuggets. Among its properties: plasticity, malleability. It has a light color and a silvery sheen.

Silver in coins and bars

The largest deposits of silver are located in North America. To a person who is far from technological innovations, it may seem that metal is mainly used to make jewelry, spoons and coins. In fact, silver is widely used, using its properties of high electrical conductivity and as a catalyst in chemical oxidation reactions. Silver is also used to disperse clouds.

At the end of 2018, one troy ounce of silver (31.1 grams) costs $14.84 on the New York World Exchange.

9th place – Ru (ruthenium), $2 per gram

Ruthenium was discovered by Professor Klaus, who taught in Kazan at the end of the 19th century. He isolated the pure element from platinum ore brought from the Urals. The name of the element repeats the Latin “Ruthenia”, which means “Rus”. It is actually a platinum metal.

There are three ways to obtain a pure substance:

1. from technetium nuclide with mass number 99;
2. when purifying platinum from impurities;
3. when processing nuclear materials (significant amount).

On exchanges it is traded at $60-65 per troy ounce. Used as a catalyst, in alloys, for resistors and ion channel studies.

8th place – Sc (scandium), $3.4 per gram

The silvery metal scandium is light in weight and has a yellowish tint, by which it is easily recognized. It was first announced by a chemist from Sweden, Nilsson, so scandium received its name in honor of an entire region in northern Europe.

One isotope of the substance is known. It is used in alloys to increase electrical conductivity, in robotics, in the production of weapons, and to obtain materials of increased strength. The properties of the element are not fully understood, but scientists call it the metal of the future.

Read also: About the T-34 tank

It is predicted that scandium will strengthen its position in the ranking of the most expensive chemical elements.

7th place – Re (rhenium), $4.7 per gram

This position is occupied by the expensive and rare metal rhenium with high density. Named after a large German river - the Rhine.

Rhenium in ingot and cubic form

Mendeleev called it trimarganese, but it was discovered in the first quarter of the 20th century by chemists from Germany. Obtained by isolation from raw materials:

In deposits of different countries you can find no more than 13,000 tons. Demand for rhenium is recorded annually, as it is necessary for the creation of aircraft and missile components. The substance has a high melting point of 3186°C. Contacts made from this expensive element clean themselves and last longer than others.

6th place – Pd (palladium), $19 per gram

Platinum will be discussed below, but another metal was extracted from its ore - palladium. It is lightweight, similar in appearance to its counterpart, but very flexible.

Palladium is widely used in jewelry making

It is noteworthy that palladium is rarely found in the crust of the globe; it is used in the manufacture of coins and jewelry, in electroplating, and in medicine. This substance is mined in Russia (Norilsk), eastern Canada, and South Africa.

5th place – Rh (rhodium), $27 per gram

Silvery shiny metal with a pinkish tint is in great demand in the world. Like palladium, it was discovered when working with platinum.

Alloys with rhodium have a characteristic pinkish color

Not only is it rare and expensive, but it is also scattered. This means that it exists only in the form of an isotope. It is impossible to find a rhodium nugget. The price is affected by demand and the lack of large deposits. The connection between rhodium and gold and another metal, iridium, is known: osmic iridium has the highest content of this expensive substance.

4th place – Pt (platinum), $30 per gram

The oldest platinum products were found in South America in the foothills of the Andes. From there it was brought to Spain. In Russia, the expensive element was found in the Urals during gold mining. Even in ancient times, people learned to distinguish platinum from silver, revealing extraordinary refractoriness.

Platinum is an inert element. It can only be dissolved in a concentrated mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acid (aqua regia) and bromine. The substance is widely used in industry. It is used to make electrodes, parts for microwave ovens, and laboratory glassware. Used in the production of jewelry.

3rd place – Ir (Iridium), $35 per gram

A dense, expensive and very rare metal found in meteorites. The discovery of iridium belongs to the Englishman Tennant. About 3 tons of the substance are mined annually around the world.

Iridium has two stable isotopes. The element is used for various purposes:

• in the manufacture of automotive engine parts;
• for nuclear reactors, including in Russia;
• in paleontology;
• for rocket fuel tanks.

Read also: What to do if your flight is delayed

Does not corrode even at high temperatures. The price in the markets fluctuates and can reach $45 per gram, which is higher than gold.

2nd place – Au (Gold), $40 per gram

Gold is more attractive than other rare metals because it has a characteristic yellow color. It is one of the most expensive and in demand in the world: it is used in the chemical and electronic industries, for making jewelry, and in dentistry. The best children's and ladies' jewelry is made from 750 gold.

55 thousand tons of expensive metal are today in safe deposit boxes and bank vaults as savings and government reserves. Just as oil deposits are valued today, so have mines been valued at all times.

1st place – Cf (californium)

It's time to find out which metal is the most expensive in the world. His name comes from the state of California. At the University of Berkeley it was created artificially. California is the most expensive metal on earth. This is due to the following reasons:

• rare, not found in the earth's crust (produced in the USA and Russia);
• It takes 8-18 months for production.

The production time for 1 gram of Californian can reach 1.5-2 years

To isolate, the transuranium element curium and the radioactive plutonium must be placed in a nuclear reactor and irradiated. Everything that remains after a few months is subjected to chemical attack. Californium is also called the most expensive precious metal in the world, although it is not used to make jewelry. The fact is that it is used to treat tumors. The element is also used as a source of neutrons.

There are 8-9 grams of metal stored in the world. The price of the most expensive metal in the world is $250 million per gram.

Source: https://infografics.ru/all/samye-dorogie-metally/

The rarest metal on Earth

We all know about metals such as aluminum, iron, chromium, platinum, gold. All of them are familiar to us and are the most common. But there are also metals whose names are completely unfamiliar to many people. Let's find out what the rarest metal exists on Earth and what characteristics it has.

The rarest metal in the world is rhenium, the appearance of which was predicted by Mendeleev in 1870. In those days, the great chemist claimed that very soon a compound with an atomic weight of 180 would be discovered. However, many scientists struggled with this, but they managed to discover a previously unknown metal only in 1925. Walter and Ide Noddack discovered a resistant material that was named after the German Rhine River.

Many people are not even aware of the existence of this rare metal, but the industry knows about it firsthand - the value of rhenium is recognized as much higher than the value of platinum.

In 1992, a rare deposit of rhenium was discovered, which is located in Russia - on the Kudryaviy volcano (South Kuril Islands). Today this deposit is in the stage of active formation.

However, it is quite difficult to obtain this rarest metal - to get a kilogram of material, you need to extract at least 2000 tons of molybdenum and copper ore. In a year you can get about forty tons of the rarest metal.

This metal can be considered one of the most refractory. But despite this, it is quite flexible. Easily forged, rolled, drawn into wire. But the plastic properties of the material directly depend on how pure the resulting rhenium is.

Since this element will be more ductile than tungsten, the demand for it is slightly higher. But it is sometimes difficult to use this metal due to its high cost. Rhenium can even be considered the most expensive metal. For example, in 1969.

for one kilogram of the rarest element in powder form, you had to pay about $1,300.

An important quality of rhenium is its excellent heat resistance. It is common for this material to retain strength at 2000 degree temperatures much better than is typical for molybdenum, tungsten, and niobium. In addition, the strength of rhenium is higher than that of these metals, which are difficult to melt. The rare metal is also highly resistant to corrosion, which makes the material similar to platinum.

In its compact form, rhenium has a silvery color. If you store it at low temperatures, then for years it will not lose its appearance and will not fade.

The oxidation process of rhenium can be observed at a temperature of 300 degrees, and more intense oxidation will occur at temperatures above 600 degrees.

This property means that the metal is much more resistant to oxidation than tungsten or molybdenum, and it also does not tend to react with nitrogen and hydrogen.

Use of rhenium

Due to the excellent combination of chemical and physical characteristics of this metal, it is used in those industries where the use of expensive metals is necessary to achieve the desired results. As a rule, rhenium is used for alloys, which ultimately turn out to be cheaper than itself. And rhenium itself is used for the manufacture of important small-sized parts. Rhenium is also used to coat other metals.

Rhenium is used to create high-octane gasoline, manufacture high-precision equipment, and produce filters that allow cleaning automobile exhausts. But it is almost impossible to use rhenium on a larger scale due to its scarcity in nature and, consequently, its high cost.

Another rare element in the earth's crust

This is recognized as astatine, which, according to scientists, contains only 0.16 grams in the earth’s crust. This element of the periodic table was officially discovered in 1940. The characteristics of astatine are quite difficult to study experimentally due to its small amount. However, this radioactive element is of great interest to scientists today, since it has been found that it can be used in the fight against cancer cells.

Source: https://topkin.ru/best/nauka/samyj-redkij-metall-na-zemle/

Rare earth metals: list

At the beginning of the 19th century, rare earth metals were surrounded by a mysterious cult. They were shown at exhibitions. Scientific progress was associated with their appearance. Ordinary people talked about them and wrote newspapers. But what was the reason for such a stir? Are these metals as rare as their name suggests? Let's figure it out.

Types and history of discovery

The category of rare earth metals (REM) includes 15 chemical elements. In the periodic table they are located under serial numbers from 57 to 71. Similar in their chemical characteristics, at the same time, these rare earth elements have a clearly defined uniqueness. Each has its own technological features.

Rare earth elements have 2 families: ytterbium and cerium:

1. Ytterbium family: Thulium, Holmium, Ytterbium, Gadolinium, Dysprosium, Terbium, Erbium, Lutetium.
2. The Cerium group includes: Samarium, Neodymium, Lanthanum, Europium, Cerium, Promethium, Praseodymium

This division is made based on how the selected components dissolve in salts of sulfuric acids.

A little later, the following elements were added to the list: Yttrium, Scandium, Lanthanum, Lutetium. Thus, the list of rare earth metals consists of 16 elements.

Rare earth metals have a long history of discovery. The first study of "yttrium lands" was carried out by chemistry professor Gandolin in the 1790s. As a research object, he used a mineral found in the mountains of Sweden. Later, this type of rock formation was named in his honor - gandolinite.

In the 1840s, Mozander isolated cerium oxide. After 5 years, he also obtained terbium and erbium earths, using the gandolinite already known to us. Promethium was the last of the rare earth metals to be discovered. Its research was carried out by Marinsky and Glendenin, who used uranium fission fragments in a nuclear reactor for their experiments.

Discoveries of the rare earth group of metals ended only in the middle of the 20th century, but effective industrial methods for their separation are still being developed.

The most valuable and expensive from the list of rare earth groups are:

1. Terbium;
2. Neodymium;
3. Europium;
4. Lutetium.

Distribution of rare earth metals

The total amount by mass of rare earth elements in the bowels of the Earth is 0.01%, which is relatively significant. That's more than titanium and lead combined. The most common rare earth elements are cerium, neodymium and lanthanum.

The least common rare earth metal is europium. Its content on Earth is 0.0012% of its mass, which is comparable to an element such as mercury.

To date, approximately 240 minerals have been discovered whose chemical composition contains rare earth metals. In 62 of them, the total percentage of rare earth metals reaches 10%. By their nature, they are different types of fluorides, silicates and phosphates. Despite such a huge number of minerals, only a few of them are suitable for production needs. These are mainly monazite, bastnäsite, apatite and euxenite.

The percentage ratio between individual rare earth metals in rock formations is quite variable. Monazites and bastnäsites are dominated by elements of the cerium subgroup; in apatites - yttrium.

Production

The main deposits of rare earth metals are located in the territory of modern China, the United States of America and Russia. According to expert data, world reserves of rare earth metals amount to about 120 million tons. It is worth noting that half of this mass falls on the People's Republic of China.

Some scientists claim that the ocean floor is rich in minerals based on rare earth metals. According to their calculations, about 130 billion tons of their reserves are hidden there. It is not yet clear how correct their assumption is. At this stage of development, production does not have equipment that could work at such depths.

Receipt

There are several options for processing minerals:

1. Decomposition by hydrofluoric and sulfuric acids.
2. Chlorination.
3. Melting with alkalis.

The products of these reactions are various types of chlorides, oxides and sulfates, which serve as starting materials for the production of pure rare earth metals. For this purpose, chemical reduction methods with calcium, magnesium and potassium are used. This includes precipitation, ion exchange and fractional crystallization. Distillation and vacuum remelting are used to purify rare earth metals from impurities.

Physical properties

The density of rare earth metals varies between 6,000 – 7,000 kg/m3. Melting processes begin at temperatures around 900 – 1000 ºC; boiling - at 3500 ºC. Most rare earth metals belong to the group of paramagnets, the magnetic susceptibility of which is inversely related to temperature.

Rare earth metals are superconductors by nature. The temperature of transition to the superconducting state occurs at 4-5 K. This indicator can be reduced by increasing the excess pressure to 0.2 MPa.

Mechanical properties

Rare earth metals with a purity of up to 98% at room temperature have a hardness of 300-500 MPa on the Brinell scale. As the temperature increases, this value decreases. So at 800 ºC the hardness of lanthanum is already 35 MPa. Metals soften especially strongly at 550 ºC, which is associated with their polymorphic transformation.

In tensile testing, dumbbell-shaped samples of rare earth metals fail at 150-200 MPa. They begin to deform already at 100-125 MPa. The relative specific stretch for them is 8-12%. Note that in the range of 20-800 ºC there is a sharp increase in plasticity. The reason for this is the transition of the internal structure of metals to the cubic modification.

Chemical properties

Rare earth metals in dry air are covered with a thin film, which is based on their oxides. It serves as effective protection against both mechanical and chemical influences.

In a humid environment, they begin to slowly oxidize and transform into hydroxides. These processes take place at ambient temperatures above 250 ºC. At 450 ºC, rare earth metals in an oxygen environment burn to oxides with the active release of heat.

Rare earth metals readily react with sulfur and chlorine. When heated, it also reacts with bromine and iodine.

Rare earth metals dissolve in acids of the mineral group. Inert towards most types of alkalis.

Technological properties

At room temperature, rare earth elements are well processed by forging and pressing. It is worth noting that these operations must be performed extremely carefully, because... REMs do not have high viscosity.

Various types of rolled metal are produced from rare earth metals. These are mainly rods with a diameter of 1 to 5 mm, tape and foil. To protect against oxidation, metal blanks are preheated in an environment of inert gases. This is usually either argon or helium.

Application

Alloys of lanthanum with aluminum are characterized by an increased rate of absorption of carbon monoxide and nitrogen, but have low activity towards hydrogen. This makes it possible to use it in hydrogen thyratron getters, where maximum isolation of hydrogen from surrounding gases is required.

Cerium additives effectively modify the structure of cast iron and steel. Such alloying improves their ductility and weldability, and reduces the percentage of scrap.

High purity praseodymium is used in the manufacture of enamel, glass and glaze. The addition of praseodymium to ceramics gives it a special yellowish tint. Most high-quality optical glasses contain praseodymium oxides. On their basis, artificial precious stones are made - rubies, amethysts, topazes, etc.

Promethium is used as a base material for nuclear mini-batteries. Its isotopes produce soft radiation that does not require special protection.

Due to its wide cross-section for capturing thermal neurons, europium is used in the production of nuclear reactor guide rod protection shields. The phosphor of a color TV based on yttrium oxide is activated by europium, which increases the quality of its image by approximately 50%. Europium is also used in the production of magnetic alloys.

As you can see, rare earth metals are already actively used in various industrial sectors. But the study of their capabilities is only gaining momentum and brings with it many promising applications. Time will tell what will come of this. All we can do is wait.

Source: https://prompriem.ru/metally/redkozemelnye-metally.html

5 Rarest Metals in the World

Rare metals are divided into two categories: those that can be found in nature, and those that can only be obtained in laboratory conditions. The top 5 most valuable and rare metals in the world include californium, osmium, gallium, tantalum, and rhenium.

Californium

One of the rarest and at the same time expensive metals is californium. Its production takes from one and a half to eight years. In order to extract a few grams of californium, it is necessary to spend approximately 10 million dollars. There are only 2 laboratories in the world that process and extract metal. One is located in the United States, the second is in Russia.

Californian is not a precious metal because it is radioactive. The metal color is silver with a white tint. Used in radiation therapy to treat cancer of the brain (sometimes neck), as well as in aircraft radiography.

We recommend reading: What are precious metals and what is their value?

Osmium

The metal belongs to the platinum group and is precious. The color of osmium is silver with a blue tint. It is not only one of the rarest metals, but also the densest of the simple substances in the world.

In the natural environment, osmium can be mined in complex ores. The metal has a high melting point and is used in industry, chemistry, medicine and engineering.

It takes more than 9 months to produce the rare isotope osmium-187. The cost of the isotope is $10,000 per gram.

Gallium

An amazing silver-blue metal called gallium is valuable, rare and highly sought after in the industrial sector. In addition, gallium is often used by magicians, since it has a low melting point, and the metal can begin to melt while in the hand.

Gallium is used to make thermometers for measuring high temperatures, and metal glue is also produced based on the rare metal.

The cost of gallium is $1,200 per 1 kilogram.

Tantalum

Expensive tantalum, named after a character in Greek myth, is a rare metal that is very difficult to obtain in its pure form. The metal color is light gray.

The cost of 1 kg of tantalum can range from 500 to 4600 dollars (the price directly depends on the purity of the metal).

Tantalum is used to make electronic devices and is also often used in industry, most often in the chemical industry. The rare metal has a unique property – biocompatibility. Due to this, tantalum is used in medicine. If you make a prosthesis from it, you can avoid the body’s rejection of a foreign object.

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Rhenium

Rhenium was first discovered in 1926 in an amount of 2 grams, although Mendeleev predicted the appearance of the element long before that moment. The rare silvery-white metal can be obtained by processing molybdenite. In order to obtain 1 gram of rhenium, it is necessary to process several hundred kilograms of molybdenite.

Rhenium is used in the manufacture of jet fuel engines, as well as in the production of turbine blades and precision instruments.

The cost of 1 kg of rhenium can vary from 1000 to 10,000 dollars, depending on the purity of the metal.

To sum it up. It should be said that the rarest metals on the planet include gallium, californium, osmium, tantalum and rhenium. The most expensive and valuable of them is californium, since it takes several years and about 10 million dollars to extract 1 gram of this metal.

Source: http://inzoloto.ru/precious-metalls/5-samyih-redkih-metallov-v-mire

The most expensive metals in the world: from rhodium to California-252 | SOKOLOV Magazine

Experts divide these metals into two groups: natural and artificially produced. The first group includes rhodium, platinum, gold, osmium and ruthenium. The second consists of two chemical elements - californium and osmium-187.

Rhodium

$225 per gram

One of the rarest on Earth. Silver-colored metal with strong reflective properties. There is an external resemblance to aluminum, but rhodium is much harder. It has high chemical resistance and is an excellent catalyst, which determines its main use in the chemical and automotive industries. In jewelry production, rhodium is used in the final processing of products.

Platinum

$70 per gram

Silver-white metal. Previously, due to its refractoriness, it was valued lower than silver. The metal has not been found in its pure form on Earth. Most often, platinum is found in the form of alloys with other metals. Platinum is isolated through a complex chemical process. Along with jewelry production, platinum is used in the electronics and medical industries. Also used for making coins.

Gold

$30-40 per gram

Main precious metal. It is found in the depths only in a pure state. The malleability, strength and anti-corrosion properties of gold make it an indispensable chemical element for the production of jewelry and bank coins, and determine its use in the electronics industry and dentistry.

Ruthenium

$15 per gram

Named after Russia (lat. Ruthenia - Russia), the silver-gray metal is very rarely found in the depths. Its properties include simultaneous hardness and brittleness, as well as refractoriness. High purity ruthenium has not yet been obtained. The characteristics of ruthenium make it in demand in jewelry production, the chemical and electronics industries.

Osmium-187

$200,000 per gram

It takes 9 months to obtain this metal. The dark powder of osmium-187 has the highest density of any substance known. Practical use is being studied. Osmium-187 is of scientific research importance and is used to create individual high-precision devices.

Source: https://sokolov.ru/blog/about-jewelry/precious-metals/samye_dorogie_metally_v_mire/

Rare metals

Rare metals, the conventional name of a group of metals (more than 50), the list of which is given in the table. These are metals that are relatively new in technology or are still little used and mastered. areas of application and the scale of their production have not yet stabilized and continue to develop rapidly. The term appeared in literature around the 20s.

20th century Abroad, R. metals are sometimes called less common metals (Less Common Metals). Most of the rhizomes are not very common and are quite often scattered in the earth's crust; their extraction from raw materials and obtaining in their pure form is associated with enormous technological difficulties. These are the circumstances of the rather late discovery, technical development and study of R. m.

The production of R. m. began especially quickly after the end of the Second World War (1939–45). They are needed for such new branches of technology as high-speed aviation, rocket science, electronics, and nuclear energy. Of course, as consumption increases and the production of these metals increases, the term R. m. loses its initial meaning.

Based on the similarity of physical and chemical characteristics, the similarity of production development, and some other indicators, a technical classification of R. m. has been compiled, given in Table.

This classification is very conditional: many elements can be classified into different groups at one time; Thus, Rb, Cs are both light and trace elements; the ordinary scattered element Re is at the same time a refractory metal; and the ordinary refractory metals V and Hf are both trace elements; Ti belongs to both refractory and light metals, etc.

Lungs R.m. have a low density (from 0.54 g/cm3 for Li to 1.87 g/cm3 for Cs), and are chemically very active. In terms of production methods and properties, they are close to light non-ferrous metals (Al, Mg, Ca, Na). Cm.

Light metals.

Refractory metals belong to the transition metals of groups IV, V, VI, and VII of the periodic group; In their atoms, the completion of d-levels by electrons occurs. They are characterized by high melting temperatures (from 1670 °C for Ti to 3410 °C for W), the formation of refractory metal-like compounds with a number of non-metals (carbides, nitrides, silicides, borides, beryllides). Cm.

Refractory metals.

Scattered minerals are mostly found in the form of isomorphic impurities in minerals of other elements and are extracted along the way from metallurgical and chemical production wastes; for example, Ga - in the production of Al2O3 oxide (alumina), In - from waste from the production of Zn and Pb. See Scattered Elements.

Rare earth metals are characterized by extremely close chemical properties. In ore raw materials, these metals accompany each other and dividing them is a very difficult task. For separation, extraction with organic solvents and ion exchange processes are used. Cm.

Rare earth elements, Lanthanides.

Radioactive metals. This group combines radioactive elements found in nature (Fr, Ra, Po, Ac, Th, Pa, U) and artificially obtained (Tc, Np, Pu, etc.). The most important practical values ​​of these elements are plutonium and uranium (in the production of nuclear energy). Cm.

Radioactive elements.

In ore raw materials, minerals are in most cases found in small concentrations, and the raw materials are quite often complex and complex. Based on this, chemical processes and ore enrichment by isolating, separating, and purifying mineral compounds are of great importance in the technology of extracting minerals. In most cases, minerals are not smelted from ore concentrates, but are reduced in various ways from pure chemical compounds .

In the metallurgy of metallurgy, a variety of methods are widely used: the reduction of salts and oxides with gases, carbon, or metals (see Metallothermy), thermal dissociation of compounds, electrolysis in aqueous and molten media, vacuum, arc, electron beam, and zone melting, etc. For refractory materials. metals, in addition, powder metallurgy methods have become extremely widespread.

Technical classification of rare metals

Multiple periodic collection

Elements

Several rare metals

I

II

Lithium, rubidium, cesium

Beryllium

Lungs

IV

V

VI

Titanium, zirconium, hafnium

Vanadium, niobium, tantalum

Molybdenum, tungsten

Refractory

III

IV

VI

VII

Gallium, indium, thallium

Germanium*

Selenium*, tellurium*

Rhenium

Scattered

III

Scandium, yttrium, lanthanides and lanthanum

Rare earth

I

II

France

Radium

Radioactive

VI

Actinium, thorium, protactinium, uranium, plutonium and other transuranic elements

VII

Polonium Technetium

* Germanium, tellurium and selenium are classified as metals conditionally: unlike metals, they are semiconductors.

For the properties, methods of production, and areas of application of individual metals, their alloys and compounds, see the articles Beryllium, Vanadium, Tungsten, and others.

Lit.: Zelikman A. N., Meerson G. A., Metallurgy of rare metals, M., 1973; technology and chemistry of rare and trace elements, ed. K. A. Bolshakova, vol. 2, M., 1969; Songina O. A., Rare metals, 3rd ed., M., 1964; Handbook of Rare Metals, trans. from English, ed. V. E. Plusheva, M., 1965; Filyand M. A., Semenova E. I., Properties of rare elements, 2nd ed., M., 1964.

A. N. Zelikman.

Read also:

• Working period
• Conductive fabrics
• Revolutionary tribunals

Related articles:

• Refractory metalsRefractory metals, according to technical classification - metals that melt at temperatures above 1650-1700 ° C; the number of T. m. (table) includes titanium Ti,
• Ultrapure metalsUltrapure metals, high-purity metals, very pure metals, metals, the total content of impurities in which does not exceed 1? 10-3% (by weight).

Source: http://australianembassy.ru/redkie-metally/

Rare metals: why are they so important - and why do we know so little about them?

Thanks to these elements, our devices are becoming smaller and more powerful. What makes the glass surface of the phone “magical,” that is, responsive to touch, is a grain of the rare metal indium, which makes an invisible connection and serves as a transparent conductor between the phone and your finger.

Deposition of europium and terbium produces brilliant reds and greens on the screen, tantalum particles control the power in the phone, and lithium stores the energy that makes the phone mobile.

The production of iPhone components is also indispensable without rare metals: cerium is used to polish glass at the molecular level.

Steve Jobs' desire to make gadgets small and powerful led his company to collect more and more elements from the periodic table and deliver them to the masses. Moreover, the commercial success of the iPhone has changed our expectations from gadgets. It has spurred the development of new industries, including mobile apps and tablets, making rare metals an integral component not only of smartphones, but also of a variety of new technologies.

Not only did Jobs deliver on his promise to reinvent the telephone, he also helped reinvent the world's supply chain. And in the process, he helped usher in a new era - the age of rare metals.

Rare metals are found everywhere (really everywhere) - from floating bridges to headphones. They are in sofas, camera lenses, computers and cars. But they are rarely used on their own or as base materials. In essence, rare metals are like the yeast on a pizza. They are important in small quantities. Without yeast there will be no pizza, and without rare metals there will be no high-tech world.

Rare metals are the foundation of our modern high-tech, green and military industries. Rare metals have the same transformative effect as oil and coal. And they will attract as much attention as fossil fuels, meaning that those who control and manage their production and distribution will reap enormous economic and geopolitical benefits.

Yet, unlike oil or coal, their reserves are often much more limited, and their deposits are found in just a few places on Earth. Many of them have such unique properties and actions that they cannot be replaced by cheaper or more functional alternatives. Our dependence on rare metals is not just an abstract geopolitical issue or a topic exclusively related to materials science.

She is a potential source of conflict. But it was not always so.

***

Just 150 years ago, almost all the materials in every person's home came from a nearby forest or quarry. By the 1960s, with the development of supply chains and increased demand for consumer household products, the average American home used about 20 elements. Since then, materials scientists have led a silent revolution, transforming the manufactured products that serve us and the materials that enable them to work.

In the 1990s, Intel used just 15 elements to create computer chips; now it needs almost 60.

Our personal consumer decisions today, along with the technologies we use every day, have significant implications for rare metal reserves. Unfortunately, we don't think much about this connection between us and these resources.

Although rare metals have always existed, many of them were discovered in the last few hundred years, and some only in the last century. Companies now use elements that scientists considered mere impurities just a few decades ago.

Over the past 35 years, mining companies have produced 4 times more of many (if not all) rare metals than since the dawn of civilization until 1980.

Source: https://knife.media/rare-metals/

What is the rarest metal on Earth? :

Metals are a group of simple elements that have characteristic properties. Among their main properties are malleability, plasticity, shine, thermal and electrical conductivity. The name goes back to the Latin “metallum”, which means “mine”, “mineral”, “metal”.

Rare and expensive

All metals are hard, but their strength varies. Some can be cut with a kitchen knife, while others (chrome, for example) will even scratch steel or glass.

Most of them are present in nature in the form of ores and compounds. They are removed from the earth during mining.

Many metals have their own unique properties. For example, iridium can destroy cancer cells. It fills them with a huge dose of oxygen, which, while killing pathogenic elements, leaves healthy ones untouched.

Interesting fact. It turns out that an ordinary smartphone contains gold, silver and palladium - expensive and quite rare metals. These mobile phones seem especially valuable given the fact that one day humanity will exhaust the reserves of precious elements at a depth acceptable for mining.

There are many metals found in nature, but all in different quantities. There are a lot of some, almost none of others. There are metal isotopes that are obtained artificially. Many of them are not only rare, but also incredibly expensive. So, what is the rarest metal on Earth?

Californian from California

Californian (Cf) today has the status of the rarest and most expensive metal on Earth. Located at number 98 in the periodic table. It is called the "stone of hope." It is silver-gray in color and is produced by long-term irradiation of plutonium. Plutonium itself was obtained by bombarding uranium with heavy hydrogen nuclei.

Californium was bred by a group of scientists led by Glenn Seaborg in 1950. Naturally, it does not exist in nature. Its creation was carried out by a team from the University of California (where the metal got its name) in Berkeley. Today only 2 laboratories work with it. One is in Russia, the other is in the USA.

Californium is an isotope (isotopes are produced artificially). At the same time, its cost is simply fabulous - up to 10 million dollars per gram. This is not surprising, since the world reserve of the metal is only 8 grams. Every year it is possible to obtain only 20-40 grams of californium.

This metal is radioactive and consists of 17 isotopes. The most studied of them is californium-252. Its half-life is as much as 900 years.

The properties of California are stunning. It is used mainly in medicine and in the field of nuclear physics. It is a powerful source of neutrons, so it is used to treat malignant tumors that are not “treated” by radiation therapy.

It is also used to study outer space - both the Moon and the most distant stars and planets. It is also applicable to the study of nuclear fission. In addition, californium is an indispensable assistant during mining - it allows you to detect silver and gold.

Bombs made with the world's rarest metal are considered very powerful. 1 gram of californium is capable of powering a small nuclear reactor for an hour.

Osmium and osmium-187

Osmium is a natural metal. Formally, he is considered noble. Osmium has a beautiful silver-blue hue. It has the highest melting point. For a long time, scientists could not figure out at what temperature this metal melts - 3000 or 5000 degrees. The results reported that it is better to melt it on the surface of the Sun.

Extraction of osmium in nature is a long process, taking almost a year. Its market price is $10,000 per gram. However, the isotope osmium-187 is much more expensive. Its cost reaches $200,000 per gram. Production of the isotope takes about 9 months. It is noteworthy that the use of osmium-187 has not yet been found. But they are already buying.

Are there others?

Californian is the rarest metal on Earth, but there are others that are natural. They are also small in the earth's crust. Today, about 40 metals are known that are very rarely found in nature. However, they do not form deposits, but are adjacent to other minerals. They are called scattered. Thus, bismuth is found in copper deposits, and germanium is found in coals.

Astatine

Astatine is the rarest naturally occurring metal on the planet. Only 70 mg of astatine is present in the earth's crust. For a long time it was considered a halogen (forming salts by reaction with metals). But in 2013, a study was conducted.

Scientists have modeled the properties of astatine. Formally, it should be a metal, but at the same time it does not build their inherent crystal lattice.

The structure of astatine should be similar to that of mercury, but it is likely to be liquid rather than solid under normal conditions.

During the entire period of studying its properties, laboratories managed to obtain only 0.05 micrograms of the rarest metal on earth, so its main characteristics (color, density) remain a mystery to chemists.

Astatine is obtained by irradiating bismuth and then separating them from each other. All isotopes of this substance are active. It is noteworthy that the decay period of astatine is just over 8 hours. This property allows it to be used in nuclear medicine.

Rhenium is one of the rarest metals

Rhenium is one of the rarest metals on Earth. When compiling his table, Mendeleev predicted that a compound with an atomic weight of 180 would soon be discovered. For many years, scientists tried to find the mysterious metal. But it was not until 1925 that this rare, stable metal was discovered by Ida and Walter Noddack.

Until recently he was considered absent-minded. Rhenium minerals are so rare that they are of scientific rather than industrial value. This metal is unique; its properties have no analogues. It is used in the process of creating space and aviation technology. With just 4% rhenium, incredible strength is achieved. This technique can withstand the highest temperatures (up to 2,000 degrees) without losing strength. About 70% of rhenium mined in the world is exploited by Japan.

Today, the demand for rhenium, like other rare elements of the periodic table, is growing every day. The USA especially needs it. This explains the cost of the metal - $800 per 1 gram of crude raw materials.

Rhenium on the South Kuril Islands

In the 90s of the last century, a large deposit of rhenium was discovered in Russia. Now the main thing is to build a plant and organize its production. The deposit is located directly in the crater of the active Kudryavy volcano, on the island of Iturup (belongs to the group of the South Kuril Islands).

Gases from the volcano release about 15 tons of rhenium to the surface annually. This confirms the theory of geologists that most rare and heavy metals that are inaccessible to us are located in the bowels of the planet.

Source: https://www.syl.ru/article/365091/kakoy-metall-samyiy-redkiy-na-zemle

Rare metals list of names

At the beginning of the 19th century, rare earth metals were surrounded by a mysterious cult. They were shown at exhibitions. Scientific progress was associated with their appearance. Ordinary people talked about them and wrote newspapers. But what was the reason for such a stir? Are these metals as rare as their name suggests? Let's figure it out.

Noble metals: what they are, list of precious and semi-precious alloys, properties, extraction, application and cost per gram

Hello dear reader. In this article we will talk about precious metals and everything related to them. Noble metals have always attracted attention, but few people know why they are so highly valued, where they are used and, most importantly, how they can make money.

What it is?

Noble metals are distinguished from other elements by their ability to maintain their molecular structure under the influence of an unfavorable environment. They cannot be decomposed, and the melting point of these elements is extremely high. They do not react with oxygen and do not produce oxides. Alloys with precious metals can only be obtained through complex chemical manipulations using the strongest reagents.

The mass share of precious metals in the total production of natural resources is very small, which explains the high price of these elements, as well as their special status.

A complete list of names of precious metals was prescribed in 1998 in the Federal Law “On Precious Metals and Precious Stones”. According to Russian legislation, platinum and five of its group metals, as well as the popular silver and gold, are considered precious.

History of appearance

Noble metals are a valuable and non-renewable natural resource. None of the precious metals can be obtained experimentally, so for the scientific community the appearance of these elements on Earth still remains a mystery. At the moment, there are two working versions of their appearance:

1. Space. Proponents of this hypothesis believe that we owe the appearance of precious metals in the earth's crust to meteorites that bombarded the Earth at the dawn of its formation. However, this version has a serious drawback - scientists have found that the average meteorite contains only about 0.005% of the total weight of noble metals, which in no way correlates with the volumes mined at different deposits.
2. Tectonic. According to this assumption, all precious metals were born under the influence of high temperatures and in the presence of special conditions in the core of the planet, and then were thrown to the surface with lava flows. This version has more supporters than the space version, however, it cannot answer all the questions. In particular, it is not clear why these natural resources stopped forming again and entering the upper layers of the earth's crust along with volcanic lava emissions.

The question of the origin of noble metals and their alloys is one of the most important. If scientists are ever able to answer it, it will change the entire existing system of relationships in the world.

Which metals are noble and their properties?

This group of metals received the name “noble” due to their special characteristics. Depending on the variety, their physical and chemical properties may manifest themselves to varying degrees, but they always remain unique.

Iridium

Like osmium, it is a heavy metal. The most durable, dense, refractory and insoluble in acids, gray-white in color. The melting point is slightly lower than that of osmium and is 2454 °C.

Palladium

Soft, malleable, white with a silver tint. When heated to 860°C, palladium forms oxides, but becomes pure again as the temperature rises further. The melting point is 1554 °C.

Silver

Among the noble metals, silver has the lowest density and a relatively low melting point - 960 ° C. It is best forged and serves as an excellent heat and electrical conductor. It practically does not react with acids, but darkens under the influence of hydrogen sulfide, which is part of the atmosphere.

List of semi-precious metals

In jewelry production and instrument making, metals are actively used that are not essentially precious, but have a certain value. They are conventionally called semi-precious. Among the most popular types are the following:

Their price fluctuates in the average price range and does not exceed $2 per gram.

How are they mined?

Placers of precious metals are practically no longer found on the surface of the Earth. For example, gold mines are a kind of underground reservoirs in which ore is first turned into solution, and then filtered and sent for further processing.

The extraction of silver and other precious metals occurs in parallel with the extraction of the main mining ore, such as copper or lead. This is explained by the insignificant content of platinum group precious metals in the earth's crust and the unprofitability of their extraction. Silver is also quite rare in its pure form and makes up only about 20% of the total ore.

How are precious metals processed and purified?

The ore obtained by miners is unsuitable for use without preliminary cleaning and processing. It will be convenient to consider them using the example of gold, which is mined in large quantities.

The very first stage of processing for a long time remained cyanidation of gold ore, but over time this method developed into heap leaching. The method involves exposing the ore to cyanide and then filtering the resulting gold sediment - concentrate.

The concentrate undergoes a series of physical and chemical studies, background radiation testing, and only after that it is sent for further purification - refining. In a nutshell, refining is the liquefaction, straining and recovery of the original material, the only difference being that the recovered gold has no impurities. The gold alloys obtained after refining can be sent for casting into ingots.

Areas of application

Platinum, gold and silver are familiar to everyone in jewelry. However, the main use of precious metals is in the instrument making industry. They are used in the space, mechanical engineering, automotive, food industry and other areas.

For example, rhodium, due to its distinctive chemical properties, is used as a coating on silver and gold products, which significantly extends their service life and protects them from mechanical damage. Iridium is indispensable in the production of watches and in the manufacture of devices for the chemical industry.

Does everyone have samples?

The sample installed on the product indicates the mass fraction of the main substance in the resulting alloys. According to Russian legislation, all alloys (and products made from them) in which the precious metal content exceeds 30% of the total mass are subject to branding.

Where can I buy or sell?

The main lots on the market remain platinum and gold.
If you represent a company or have an individual entrepreneur, it is more profitable to buy metals from officially registered brokerage companies that work with leading manufacturing plants. It is easier for an individual to cooperate with banks that offer a wide range of services for the purchase of precious metals. For example, buy bullion and put them in your own cell, open a deposit and even make money on your investments.

Which precious metal is the most expensive?

If we are talking about the most popular and popular metals, then the leading place in the price ranking is occupied by palladium, platinum and gold.

However, Californian is rightfully considered the most expensive metal on earth.

It is mined during the operation of powerful nuclear reactors. The price for 1 gram of Californian is 6.5 million dollars. Next on the list of expensive metals is rhodium. It is estimated at 225 thousand dollars per gram.

Is it profitable to invest in precious metals?

Of course, the rarest metals are valued many times more, but professional investors do not recommend buying them. For successful investments, it is better to choose the most common metals that are in stable demand. Now it is palladium, platinum, gold and silver.

To understand how profitable it is to invest in these metals, it is enough to look at the tables of price changes and profits provided by the Central Bank.
Gold | USD | 1 oz

Gold shows the best results in terms of stability.

According to official data over the past 10 years, palladium has proven to be the most profitable investment.

For example, in 2010, one gram of this metal brought investors almost 125 rubles. However, this same metal turned out to be the most unstable. Price crashes happen extremely often.

Palladium | USD | 1 oz

Investment methods

The list of possibilities here is quite wide, but they all have their pros and cons:

1. Buying bullion. The easiest way to invest. However, when selling, you will have to pay 18% VAT, and when selling to a bank, you will also have to pay 13% income tax.
2. Buying coins. Collectible coins are not the best type of investment. Reason: high cost and 18% VAT. They are of greater value to numismatists than to professional investors.
3. Shares of companies mining precious metals. They can bring large and constant income, but there are also some inconveniences: they can only be bought on the stock exchange, and you cannot do without the services of an experienced broker.
4. Securities. Quite a new but interesting way of investing. You can buy securities on the stock exchange. Each security is backed by 3.1 grams of gold reserves held by HSBC in London. The only downside: with a modest investment, you won’t be able to cash out the papers in real gold.
5. Bank account. There are two options here: a COX account or a compulsory medical insurance account. In terms of generating income, it is the second option, an impersonal metal account, that is interesting. According to the principle of operation, this is nothing more than a foreign currency deposit. The interest on deposits is small, but if the price of metal rises, you can make good money on the difference in prices. Taxes on gold bars purchased under compulsory medical insurance are paid only if the owner decides to cash out the account after receiving the metal in hand.

Of all the investment methods described above, the most effective is the compulsory medical insurance contribution. However, for those who keep their finger on the pulse of the cost of precious metals or know a good broker, I advise you to try more interesting options. For example, shares or securities.

Conclusion

Precious metals were not always equally valued in society. But their unique qualities make them indispensable in many areas of human life, from the aesthetic component to the exploration of outer space.

Mining of precious metals is in full swing today, but precious ore is non-renewable. And one day, perhaps, the day will come when people will empty the last mine, and the cost of precious metals will become sky-high.

Source: https://zhazhdazolota.ru/interesnoe/blagorodnye-metally