But did you know there is a far more expensive metal, with a single gram costing more than 200 kilos of gold?

Which metal is more expensive than gold?

The super expensive metal we are talking about is called Californium, an artificially-made radioactive element which is so rare that one gram can buy you over 200 kg of gold.

Californium is not a naturally-occurring element and is artificially created in laboratories. The production process is highly complex, which is why Californium is so rare and expensive.

Who discovered Californium?

Californium was discovered in 1950 by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, who named it after the US city.

The artificially-made element, represented by 'Cf' on the periodic table, is primarily produced in nuclear reactors, and its artificial nature, extreme rarity, and complex production process makes it highly expensive.

How much does Californium cost?

According to recent data, one gram of Californium sells for around $27 million (approximately ₹240 crore), making it far more expensive than gold, which currently cost around Rs 13 lakh per kg. Thus one gram of Californium can technically be used to buy a whopping 200 kilograms of gold

Californium is artificially-produced by a handful of specialised laboratories, and has very few suppliers in the world, making it extremely rare and highly expensive.

What is Californium used for?

Californium, a synthetic, a radioactive element, is primarily used in nuclear reactor, including small modular reactors. It also has uses in medical treatments, space exploration, industrial applications, and security sector.

Californium also plays a vital role in cancer treatment, in a method known as neutron therapy, which uses californium-252 to target and destroy cancer cells. Neutron therapy is considered a major advancement in cancer treatment, making Californium a key element for advanced medical treatments.