Why is rhodium so rare?

Rhodium (Rh) is a relatively unknown precious metal, possibly due to its global demand being concentrated in auto-catalysts, where it is used in smaller quantities alongside sister PGMs palladium and platinum.

Why is rhodium so precious?

Why is Rhodium Valuable? For one, rhodium is an incredibly rare precious metal. The asset is actually extracted from platinum, which in itself is a rare metal. That just makes rhodium even rarer.

Is rhodium rare or common?

Natural abundance

Rhodium is the rarest of all non-radioactive metals. It occurs uncombined in nature, along with other platinum metals, in river sands in North and South America. It is also found in the copper-nickel sulfide ores of Ontario, Canada.

Is rhodium scarce?

Rhodium is the rarest of the platinum group, only occurring up to one part per 200 million in the Earth's crust, according to Chemistry Libretexts.

Why rhodium is the most expensive metal?

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.

Rhodium - Why is Rhodium the most expensive metal on earth?

What's the rarest metal on Earth?

The rarest metal on earth is actually francium, but because this unstable element has a half life of a mere 22 minutes, it has no practical use. Tantalum, on the other hand, is used to make capacitors in electronic equipment such as mobile phones, DVD players, video game systems, and computers.

Why is rhodium so expensive 2021?

Why is rhodium so expensive? Rhodium prices are higher than those of other PGMs because of the metal's rarity and the complex industrial extraction process required to produce it. There are very few rhodium minerals, and more than 80% of the global ores are concentrated in South Africa followed by Russia.

Where is most rhodium found?

There are many reasons for this: the primary reason being rhodium content in the earth's crust is extremely rare, and the metal is mined as a by-product of platinum and palladium mining or nickel mining. There is no such thing as a primary rhodium mine, and the major producers are all located in South Africa.

What is the highest price rhodium has ever been?

Since the start of 2022, rhodium prices have pushed up sharply, rising from $14,250/ozt on January 4 to reach $17,500/ozt on January 11 – the highest since September 2021.

What country has the most rhodium?

Rhodium is a platinum-group metal. In 2022, the supply of rhodium in South Africa was forecast to stand at around 575,000 ounces, making South Africa the world's largest rhodium producer.

What country discovered rhodium?

Rhodium was discovered in 1803, in London, by English chemist William H. Wollaston, when examining a platinum ore from Peru.

Is rhodium better than silver?

Rhodium plated jewelry adds an extra layer of protection to jewelry and produces a brighter white than sterling silver, white gold, or platinum. Realistically, jewelry cannot be crafted from solid rhodium because, despite its strength, rhodium is brittle.

Where can you mine rhodium?

Rhodium is mined solely as a co-product at grades that are often below 0.1 g/t. South Africa dominates global production, and there is very little mine supply in North America. Sibanye-Stillwater, adjacent to Group Ten's Stillwater West project, is the primary US producer.

Is rhodium a good investment?

At the end of 2019 rhodium surged to over $5,000 per ounce. Strong demand from China for auto manufacturing and lower supply from South Africa have made rhodium the strongest performing commodity in Q1 of 2020. Rhodium has also started 2021 with a surge to an all-time high of $21,900/oz.

Is rhodium more expensive than gold?

Rhodium is a precious metal – like gold, silver, or platinum – only more expensive! In fact, it is the most expensive of all the precious metals. Why is that? Well, because it is very rare in nature, it is only found as a by-product of mining for other metals, such as platinum.

What is the future of rhodium?

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the global Rhodium market size is estimated to be worth USD 2228.9 million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 2926 million by 2028 with a CAGR of 4.6% during the review period. The report provides company profiles, SWOT analysis, and growth insights to enhance business.

Are there any rhodium coins?

The Tuvalu Rhodium South Sea Dragon is the world's first legal tender rhodium coin; with an initial mintage of only 1,000 coins they are extremely rare and valuable!

Why is there a demand for rhodium?

It is considered the rarest and most valuable precious metal in the world. The main use for rhodium is in catalytic converters designed to clean vehicle emissions. The biggest producer of rhodium is South Africa (60% of the world supply) followed by Russia (10%).

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How can I get rhodium?

And Rhodium is rare, obtained in very small quantities as a byproduct of platinum and nickel mining, principally in Canada and Russia. Because it is so rare in nature and so difficult to obtain, it is in great demand from sources that include jewelry and catalysts.

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Will rhodium go back up in 2022?

Johnson Matthey's report shows that the palladium and rhodium markets could move back into deficit in 2022, with lower South African supplies and downside risks to Russian shipments. Demand growth will be constrained by weak vehicle output, and cost-saving programmes by auto and industrial consumers.

What drives the price of rhodium?

Chinese growth is driving a commodity boom for rhodium. Stoppages at Anglo American Platinum (amplats) have slashed the supply of rhodium by 16% in 2020, according to Reuters. The COVID-19 pandemic will only continue to tighten the market as outbreaks trigger lockdowns in South Africa, the top producer of rhodium.