Top 10 Most Expensive Minerals In The World

There is a good reason why gem and rock hunters are willing to spend weeks searching for mineral deposits in remote locations, some of these minerals have the potential to bring in huge profits.

If we were hoping to find a mineral worth a few thousand dollars per carat, we would definitely spend hours panning through a cold river.

In this article, we have you covered if you want to invest in some expensive minerals or just want to know what wealthy people spend their money on.

Most Valuable Minerals Found on Earth

• Jadeite – $3 Million Per Carat
• Serendibite – $1.8 Million Per Carat
• Blue Garnet – $1.5 Million Per Carat
• Painite – $55,000 Per Carat
• Gold – $1,727 Per Ounce
• Platinum – $1680 Per Ounce
• Rubies – $435 Per Gram
• Diamond – $1,800 Per Carat
• Rhodium – $435 Per Gram

9. Rhodium – $435 per Gram

Rhodium is one of the rarest elements found below the surface of the Earth, and its price and commercial use are affected by its rarity.

Although rhodium is used in decoration and jewelry, its commercial applications are what really drive up its price. Rhodium is typically electroplated onto white gold or platinum to give it a reflective surface.

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This mineral is mostly used in catalytic converters, which convert unburned hydrocarbons into less harmful gases. These converters are found in automobiles.

In 2012, 30,000 kilograms of rhodium were used worldwide, with 81% going to the automotive industry and the rest going to glassmaking and chemicals.

Even though this silvery-white mineral doesn't look all that impressive on its own, it's in high demand, making it one of the most expensive minerals in the world.

8. Diamond – $1,800 per carat

Diamonds are not only a girl's best friend but also a mineral that has the potential to bring in a lot of money.

Diamonds are a very rare mineral, so it may appear that they are everywhere. However, the majority of diamond concentrations are very small.

Before the 20th century, most diamonds were found in alluvial deposits formed by loose clay, sand, and silt deposited by running water. This mineral comes from the Earth's mantle.

De Beers has been producing diamonds since its founding in 1888, and it is now the largest diamond mining company in the world.

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The majority of the diamonds currently in use are extracted by this company, which operates mines in Canada, Australia, Namibia, South Africa, and Namibia.

While we are all familiar with white diamonds, the red diamond and the pink diamond, both varieties of fancy colored diamonds that are even rarer than white diamonds, are among the most expensive ever sold.

Diamonds are often thought of as gemstones that are used to make some of the most expensive engagement rings in the world. However, diamonds can also be used to make drill bits, saws, and heat sinks for electronic circuits.

Diamonds are definitely an investment for the majority of us, but at $1,800 per carat, you don't have to be a millionaire to afford one.

7. Rubies – $435 Per Gram

Although $435 for a gram may not seem like a lot, consider how little a ruby actually weighs.

A large pure ruby can fetch staggering prices because they are among the world's most expensive minerals.

Consider the Sunrise Ruby, which is regarded as one of the world's rarest gemstones.

At a Sotheby's auction in Geneva, this valuable 25.59 carat ruby was purchased for $30.42 million!

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A ruby's carat weight and purity, in addition to its color and cut, determine its overall quality.

Pigeon blood rubies, or rubies with a vivid red color, are the most sought-after, especially if the stone is clear and has few tiny inclusions.

In the past, Burma produced more rubies than any other country in the world. However, this has decreased in recent years.

In Pakistani Kashmir, it is thought that there are a lot of rubies worth up to a half a billion dollars.

However, only one mine in the area is currently operational due to a lack of investment.

If you want to spend a lot of money and want to make a fortune, you should definitely think about making an investment in these expensive minerals.

6. Platinum - $1680 per ounce

which is more than some of the world's most expensive precious metals combined. If you happen to own some, you can sell it for a pretty penny.

Only a few hundred tons of this rare mineral are mined annually, most of which come from South Africa.

Platinum is desired for its resistance to corrosion at high temperatures and for being one of the least reactive metals.

Platinum was first used by pre-Columbian South Americans, but it wasn't used in writing in Europe until the 16th century.

Platinum is used in catalytic converters alongside rhodium, but it can also be found in electrodes, dental equipment, and laboratory equipment.

Platinum is frequently used as a greater symbol of prestige despite the fact that pure platinum is still less expensive than pure gold.

This precious metal has unquestionably established a high standing in the public eye thanks to platinum credit card plans and platinum records.

Even though it costs $1680 per ounce less than gold, you won't be able to buy a lot of it without taking out a mortgage on your house.

5. Gold – $1,727 per ounce

Some of the world's most expensive coins, in addition to all of the finest jewelry, are made of gold. Nuggets, inside rocks, in veins, or in alluvial deposits are all common ways to find gold.

The California Gold Rush, which saw thousands of people stake out riverbeds and streams in the hope of panning for gold, was caused by deposits washed up in these deposits.

Another historic site is the less well-known Nova Scotia Gold River, where running water would erode the gold from rocks and transport it to alluvial deposits downstream.

Despite its rarity, gold is one of the four major precious metals and has numerous applications beyond jewelry. At the moment, China is the world's largest producer, extracting up to 440 tons annually.

The majority of the gold mined is used in jewelry, with jewelry accounting for 50%, investments for 40%, and industry for the remaining 10%.

Gold is frequently used in electrical connectors found in numerous electronic devices due to its solid conductivity and resistance to corrosion.

Investing in gold, whether in coins, bars, or jewelry is one of the most expensive minerals that has become a staple for the wealthy, who closely monitor its fluctuating value.

Investing in physical gold can be almost as valuable, if not more reliable, than playing the stock market if you come into a lot of money. Gold will never lose its value. 

4. Painite – $55,000 Per Carat

Painite is one of the most expensive minerals, and despite its recent discovery, it costs $55,000 per carat.

This new mineral formation of borate was discovered for the first time in Myanmar, where it was initially mistaken for a ruby before being identified as such.

Only two painite crystals were ever found after its discovery in 2001, but thousands have since been found in the Mogok region of Myanmar.

Although this gemstone is excellent for jewelry due to its remarkable resistance to scratching, you can expect to pay a hefty price for a single carat, which can range from $55,000 to $60,000 in some cases.

Black opals, or even a small red ruby, would be more affordable at that price!

3. Blue Garnet – $1.5 Million Per Carat

Although garnets have been used as adornments and abrasives since the Bronze Age, the extremely rare blue garnet was not discovered in Madagascar until 1990!

Although this pricey mineral has since been discovered in small quantities in the United States, Kenya, Russia, Turkey, and Tanzania, it remains the rarest form of garnet, and its price reflects this fact.

The fact that the blue garnet can appear to change color from blue-green to purple depending on the light it is viewed in is what makes it so unique.

This is because this mineral contains a lot of vanadium, a hard, silver-grey metal.

A blue garnet can sometimes resemble alexandrite, one of the most expensive gemstones, due to this color-changing effect.

If you want a blue garnet for yourself, you'd better have some of the world's most expensive sneakers on hand to sell, as this stone definitely gets expensive quickly!

2. Serendibite – $1.8 Million Per Carat

Serendibite is one of the world's most expensive minerals, with prices starting at $1.8 million per carat.

Serendibite, which has a green-blue or violet-blue hue and is most commonly found in hard metamorphic rock, was first discovered in Sri Lanka in 1902.

Serendibite specimens, on the other hand, have also been discovered in Burma, where they can be nearly black or darker green.

If you ever happen to come across a serendibite sample of gem quality, you will absolutely not want to pass it up.

A carat of serendibite is certainly not cheap, so long as you have Kanye West's wealth to pay for it!

1. Jadeite – $3 Million Per Carat

Jadeite Gemstones are the rarest and purest form of the mineral, and they cost $3 million per carat. Jadeite is one of the most expensive minerals in the world. You probably already know about jade.

Gemstones made of jadeite have hues ranging from light green to blue-green, and some even appear purple-blue. Jadeite rarely occurs in pure blue violet.

Even though jade has been used for centuries, some even date back to the Neolithic in the UK, jadeite is mostly found in Myanmar, where the majority of specimens of gemstone quality come from.

The most expensive jadeite necklace sold for a whopping $27.44 million, which is more than some of the world's most expensive cars. This pricey mineral will undoubtedly cost you money.

Jadeite has unquestionably more than acquired its place as perhaps of the most costly mineral on the planet, and it certainly isn't reasonable for just anybody.