Platinum is both rarer and more expensive than gold. It does not oxidize at any temperature, it's a good conductor of electricity and it is both malleable and ductile.
If translated into numbers, platinum—for all of its known deposits—is considerably more rare than gold and is the rarest metal of all.
RHODIUM: TOP MOST VALUABLE METAL
Rhodium is the most valuable metal and exists within the platinum group of metals. It is used in jewelry for a final finish on white gold jewelry. It occurs in the very same ore in which gold and silver exist – only, in smaller quantities.
One of the most valued precious metals is rhodium. Rhodium prices are, in fact, far greater than gold prices. Due to its rarity, rhodium is only available in a fraction of the amount of gold. The large price disparity between gold and rhodium is due to the fact that gold mines are far more numerous than rhodium mines.
Rhenium is the last stable metal to be discovered and it's one of the rarest elements on earth. It features a high melting point and is extremely heat and wear resistant.
1. Rhodium. Rhodium is a rare, silvery-white metal that belongs to the platinum group of elements. It has a high melting point, excellent resistance to corrosion, and is known for its catalytic properties.
Of all the metals, tungsten reigns supreme in terms of tensile strength. Coming in at an ultimate strength of 1510 Megapascals, tungsten is one of the toughest metals known to man.
"Platinum and Palladium Are 30 Times Rarer Than Gold."
Strength. Platinum is roughly 60% more dense than gold. This is the reason why the same design in Platinum will be heavier than gold. Although gold can be considered stronger in the sense of it being harder to bend, the density of Platinum and its unlikelihood of wearing away from daily wear gives it the advantage.
For starters, gold is far more abundant in the earth's crust, making platinum rarer. Whilst 1,500 tons of gold are mined annually, only 160 tons of platinum are extracted. Platinum is also denser than gold, thus heavier.
Red beryl. Often called the scarlet emerald, this gorgeous red crystal is said to be 1,000 times more valuable than gold. It is found in the Wah Wah Mountains of Utah and is sold at more than £8,000 per carat.
Rhodium is a rare, silvery-white metal that belongs to the platinum group metals (PGMs), which also includes platinum, palladium, iridium, osmium, and ruthenium.
The most expensive are at once very rare and very useful. Gold and platinum definitely count as contenders for the number one spot. Silver may be more useful industrially, but it is somewhat less rare, so less precious. Rhodium, iridium and ruthenium are perhaps the rarest, roughly 1/5 as common as platinum.
Palladium is estimated to be about 15 times rarer than platinum, making it significantly more expensive per ounce. In fact, palladium is currently the most expensive among the four major precious metals (platinum, gold, and silver).
After all, there are metals out there even more valuable than gold. Here are a handful that are even rarer! Iridium: Iridium doesn't share much in common with gold, but all the metals on this list are noble metals – meaning they resist corrosion. Iridium is brittle and shares none of gold's softness and malleability.
Rhodium is one of the rarest elements in the Earth's crust, comprising an estimated 0.0002 parts per million (2 × 10−10). Its rarity affects its price and its use in commercial applications. The concentration of rhodium in nickel meteorites is typically 1 part per billion.
Culturally, there is a hierarchy amongst the precious metals which roughly translates into their material value. At the top of this tree sits platinum, the shiny white metal which is recognised globally as an even higher symbol of quality and value than gold.
Completely pure gold isn't practical to use for most purposes, since it's too soft. However, if you're curious, there are some countries that produce gold that's as close to pure as possible. The country with the purest gold in the world is Switzerland, a country known for paying attention to quality.
The average concentration of gold in Earth's crust is 'very, very low,' at 4 parts per billion. In its elemental form, gold is significantly rarer than diamonds.
Palladium compounds are encountered relatively rarely by most people. All palladium compounds should be regarded as highly toxic and as carcinogenic. Palladium chloride is toxic, harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin.
Rare. The abundance of tungsten in the Earth's crust is thought to be about 1.5 parts per million. Tungsten or Wolfram is considered to be one of the more rare elements.
Plus, restrictive environmental policies limiting the extraction and mining of the metal have further constricted global supplies. Palladium's relative rarity makes it a valuable investment option when used to strategically diversify a Precious Metals portfolio.
Tungsten, which is Swedish for "heavy stone," is the strongest metal in the world. It was identified as a new element in 1781.