The 10 most expensive materials on Earth

Top 10 Most Expensive Materials on Earth : The Earth is home to many rare and precious materials, some of which are worth more than we can imagine. These very expensive raw materials are used in science, technology, medicine and even luxury goods and their cost depends on their rarity or technical difficulties in producing them:

Antimatter, known as the most expensive material on Earth, is worth trillions of dollars, while californium-252, which is used in nuclear reactors and medical procedures, is worth millions of dollars. Gold, often considered precious, ranks last on this list.

List of the 10 most expensive materials on Earth and their prices

In this article we will explore the 10 most expensive materials on Earth and find out why they cost so much and how they are used in different fields. The ranking data is taken from the Chartsbin.com website.

1. Antimatter – $65.5 trillion per gram

Antimatter is the most expensive material on Earth that science has discovered. Because it is very difficult to produce and store, it costs approximately $65.5 trillion per gram . Antimatter has the potential to be used as a powerful source of energy and for advanced space travel, because upon contact with matter it annihilates and transforms completely into energy, but its production requires large quantities of energy. It currently exists only in the form of anti-hydrogen, an atom made up of a positron (a particle equivalent to the electron, but with a positive charge) and a negatively charged proton.

2. Californium-252 – $27 million per gram

Californium-252 , a rare, extremely radioactive element , is used primarily in nuclear reactors and medical procedures. It detects gold and silver in mines and helps in starting nuclear reactors, because one microgram emits 170 million neutrons. It is typically produced in specialized nuclear laboratories and its availability is limited, which contributes to its high cost.

3. Diamond – $55,000 per gram

One of the best-known gemstones, diamonds are renowned for both their strength and beauty. Because of their hardness, they are used in jewelry and industrial drilling and cutting tools. Size, purity and rarity affect their cost, and here we are talking about the cost of natural ones, because artificial ones cost about a third.

4. Tritium – $30,000 per gram

Tritium is a radioactive form of hydrogen that is used in clocks and light signals such as those at emergency exits. Its potential use in nuclear fusion energy in the future is also being studied. It is very expensive due to its rapid decay and difficulty in production.

5. Taaffeite – $20,000 per gram

Taaffeite is a rare gemstone that looks like a mix of sapphire and spinel. It is extremely rare, found only in a few places in the world. Used mainly in jewelry, its beauty and rarity make it one of the most expensive gems in the world. The first with gem level was worked in 1945 in Dublin.

6. Painite – $9,000 per gram

In the past, painite was considered the rarest mineral in the world. It is mainly used in luxury jewelry and has a reddish-brown hue. Although other stones have been found recently, their scarcity and limited availability make them extremely valuable.

7. Plutonium – $4,000 per gram

Plutonium is a radioactive element used in nuclear reactors and weapons. It is risky and must be used in compliance with strict safety regulations. It is highly regulated and expensive to produce and store due to its energy potential and safety issues.

8. Cocaine and heroin – $150-200 per gram

Cocaine and heroin are illegal drugs that cost around $150-200 per gram on the black market. Despite their high price, they are dangerous and addictive substances, often linked to serious health problems, crime and severe legal consequences around the world.

9. Rhino horn – $110 per gram

Rhino horn is made of keratin, like human hair and nails. Some cultures mistakenly believe it has medicinal properties, which leads to illegal trade and poaching. Because of its value on the black market, rhino horn is expensive, although international trade is prohibited.

10. Gold – $104 per gram

Gold is one of the most famous and most used precious metals. It is used in jewelry, electronics, coins and financial investments. Even though it is last on this list, gold remains a symbol of wealth and security around the world.

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The article The 10 Most Expensive Materials on Earth comes from Economic Scenarios .

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This is a machine translation of a post published on Scenari Economici at the URL https://scenarieconomici.it/i-10-materiali-piu-costosi-sulla-terra/ on Tue, 15 Apr 2025 12:30:00 +0000.