The 10 Most Expensive Minerals in the World

Jadeite is the world’s most expensive mineral at $3 million per carat. It is so rare and so beautiful that people pay millions for specific types of jadeite gemstones. Jadeite is available in many green colors (some with a greenish-white hue), and it is found in the precious mineral gemstone jade.

Ancient civilizations used jadeite to make axe heads and jewelry, and one jadeite item, sold at auction in the late 1990s, sold for $9.3 million!

The industry measures the most expensive minerals based on rare and beautiful colors, the composition, the mineral’s clarity (if it’s an expensive gemstone), and other manners of the scientific formulation of the mineral.

Some minerals are durable and can be used for expensive drilling equipment, and others are exceptionally brittle and are only used in fine/expensive jewelry.

The following provides a list of the ten most expensive and rare minerals in the world, the chemical composition of each mineral, the mine(s) the minerals originate from, and why the minerals are so expensive.

List of Most Expensive Minerals

Here’s our list of the 10 most expensive minerals in the world:

1. Jadeite – $3 Million Per Carat
2. Red Diamonds – $2 million per carat
3. Serendibite – $1.8 Million Per Carat
4. Blue Garnet – $1.5 Million Per Carat
5. Painite – $55,000 Per Carat
6. Gold – $1,790 Per Ounce
7. Platinum – $1050 Per Ounce
8. Rubies – $435 Per Gram
9. Diamond – $1,800 Per Carat
10. Rhodium – $401 Per Gram

If you want to invest in expensive minerals or just want to know how rich people spend their money-you have come to the right place! We have all the details you want!

#1. Jadeite – $3 Million Per Carat.

Jadeite, a pyroxene mineral, has the composition of NaAlSi₂O₆. It has a hardness (Mohs hardness) of about 6.5 to 7.0, good toughness, and a density with a specific gravity of about 3.4.

Jadeite occurs in many colors; it is most commonly shades of green or white. Jadeite forms only in subduction zones on continental margins as rock metamorphoses under high pressure but relatively low temperature.

Jadeite is the primary mineral in the most valuable form of jade, which is a gemstone that is prized worldwide and particularly in China. Nearly all gem-quality jadeite jade is sourced from northern Myanmar.

Tools or implements fashioned from jade were recovered from Stone Age archaeological sites, indicating the value of jade to humans long before there were written records.

This is an appropriately heavy mineral and is very resistant to breakage as a result of its hardness. Jadeite is the most expensive mineral in the world at approximately $3 million a carat.

#2. Red Diamonds – $2 million per carat.

A red diamond is a special diamond with red color and the same mineral properties as diamonds that are colorless.

Red diamonds are frequently called the world’s most expensive mineral and the rarest diamond color in the world, even rarer than pink or blue diamonds, because very few red diamonds have ever been found.

Like pink diamonds, there is much debate about how red diamonds obtain their color, but the gemological community most often attributes both colors, among others, to gliding atoms within the diamond’s structure as it undergoes tremendous pressure during the formation of the diamond.

Red diamonds are one of the 12 colors of fancy color diamonds and the most expensive price per carat of all the diamonds.

Every couple of years, the mine will auction off its red diamonds for well over $2 million dollars down to $2.5 million dollars per carat. They are a purplish red in color so it is easy to not confuse them with rubies or garnets.

#3. Serendibite – $1.8 Million Per Carat.

Serendibite is an extremely rare silicate mineral named after Serendib, the old Arabic name for Sri Lanka. It was first discovered there in 1902 by Dunil Palitha Gunasekera, and is a mineral that isn’t as common as others on our list.

There are only two deposits known to produce Serendibite, Mogok in Northern Burma, and Ratnapura in Sri Lanka.

Serendibite is formed by many different molecules coming together in a somewhat unique process. A minuscule amount of aluminum, calcium, boron, magnesium, silicon, and oxygen must all come together in one location.

There are only three surviving faceted Serendibite known to exist today, at 0.35 carats, 0.55 carats, and 0.56 carats. There are so few existing you can see why they are valued between $1.8 and $2 million per carat.

#4. Blue Garnet – $1.5 Million Per Carat.

Blue garnet, another rare gemstone, is only sometimes seen in the color change patterns of garnets, although there are rumors about non-color-change blue garnets.

However, blue garnet is not the bright or dark blue seen in sapphires but more of a grayish-to-greenish blue. So not a stone that would be a big conversation starter in a room full of people.

Blue garnet is rarer to find, but one sold for $1.5 million per carat for one large piece. The price currently is approximately $1500 per carat for high-quality color change garnets that change color from a blueish color to a red or purplish color.

The blue garnets get their rich coloring due to the very high amounts of vanadium in the process of developing. Vanadium can be used to create a purplish color as well, but just the right amount to get a good-looking blue garnet is what makes this gemstone so costly.

#5. Painite – $50,000 to $60,000 Per Carat.

Painite is an extremely rare mineral found in Myanmar (formerly Burma) in the 1950s. Painite is known for its bright orange-red color, and gem and mineral collectors cannot get enough of it when they find it.

The composition of painite consists of calcium, boron, and oxygen. It is composed of small and poorly-formed crystals. Painite is typically found in metamorphic rocks, where other minerals are transformed into painite.

Finding painite is like finding a needle in a haystack. Only a handful of painite crystals have been discovered, with several hundred known and reported. It is extremely rare, and because of its rarity, it is found for sale for a very high price; some will sell in the range of 50 – 60 thousand dollars per carat for a “nice” piece.

Because of its rarity and high price, painite is typically made into or used in jewelry and decorative items. Collectors and gem enthusiasts cannot get enough of its uniqueness and rarity.

#6. Gold – $1,790 Per Ounce.

Gold has been sought after for a long time because it’s this soft, yellowish metal that people are crazy about. Being rare and not rusting or discoloring, it is great for fancy jewelry and coins.

Additionally, because gold is a great conductor of electricity, it is used in electronics, including in dentistry and medicine.

Gold is found mostly in small amounts in gold mines or in rivers and streams. It is like a treasure waiting to be discovered! Gold has a value depending on how pure it is, called karats.

Gold can be up to 24 karats pure gold. The price of gold fluctuates depending on what happens economically or politically. People love using gold as a safety net when the money is uncertain or when inflation occurs.

Currently, in May 2025, the price of gold is trading close to $ 3,255. This is REALLY high! As far as valued goods on the planet, gold is one of the most valuable!

#7. Platinum – $1050 Per Ounce

Platinum is a highly valuable metal that’s hard to find. People appreciate it because of its beauty, strength, and versatility. Platinum is used in a variety of things, including jewelry, automotive, medical, and electronics.

Platinum is a soft dense metal that retains its shine and resistance to rust and withstands very high temperatures. It is shiny, silvery-white metal that is easy to spot.

Platinum is limited in the Earth’s crust and generally doesn’t exist with other costly metals like gold and palladium. The major mining countries for platinum are South Africa, Russia, and Canada, where they extract the platinum through platinum smelting.

The selling price of platinum is highly volatile and can and does fluctuate based on the stability of a variety of factors impacting the world market, including supply and demand, economic stability, and foreign wars.

As of May 02, 2025, platinum was worth approximately $978 per ounce. This price places it among the most expensive metals, like gold and other true precious metals.

#8. Rubies – $435 Per Gram.

Rubies are pinkish-red to blood-red gemstones made of corundum (aluminum oxide). Rubies are popular traditional jewelry gems and durable. Other varieties of corundum are called sapphires, and ruby is one of the traditional cardinal gems along with amethyst, sapphire, emerald, and diamond.

The quality of a ruby is based on color, cut, and clarity, which along with carat weight, determine value. The brightest and most expensive shade of red is blood-red or pigeon blood that has a large premium on rubies of similar quality.

Clarity comes second; like diamonds, clarity will get a premium price when a ruby is clear, though, if there are no needle-like rutile inclusions in a ruby, it has likely been treated.

Ruby is the traditional birthstone for July and typically has a pinker hue than garnet, but some rhodolite garnets have a similar pink hue to most rubies. The most expensive ruby to ever be sold at auction is the Sunrise Ruby.

An exceptional ruby can reach $1,000,000 per carat and much more in a jewelry piece made with precious metals and enhanced settings. A recently sold large Burmese ruby for $30 million.

#9. Diamond – $1,800 Per Carat.

Diamonds are precious and made of pure carbon. People love them because they’re beautiful, unique and useful when crafted into jewelry.

Did you know diamonds are formed deep in the earth’s mantle and brought to the surface by volcanic eruptions? Isn’t that amazing?

So, why are diamonds so special? They are the superstars of gemstones. They’re worn in rings and necklaces and used for many purposes in different industries, such as drilling and cutting.

When it comes to rating diamonds for value, it’s all about the “four Cs.

• The first C is cut. Cut describes the specific shape and polish of the diamond. A diamond that is cut well will reflect light beautifully, glittering in the light.
• The second C is color: the more color a diamond has, the less valuable it is.
• The next C is clarity: how clear or flawless the diamond is. Clearer diamonds are generally more valuable than less clear diamonds.
• Finally, C is carat weight, or size. Bigger rocks go for higher prices!

Diamonds can be sold for $1,800 per carat! But remember that the price will depend on the quality and size of the diamond. So, if you can buy a diamond, it will likely be a great experience!

#10. Rhodium – $401 Per Gram.

Believe it or not, rhodium is one of the rarest elements found below Earth’s surface and this rarity is what drives its price and commercial application.

Now, you may be thinking that rhodium is generally applied for jewelry and decorative uses, like having it plated onto white gold and platinum for a shiny, reflective finish, but the commercial applications are what really drive this mineral’s extraordinary high price.

One of the more notable applications is in the automotive industry. Rhodium is used in catalytic converters—these magical devices that turn harmful gases into less harmful gases.

In fact, in 2012 over 81% of all rhodium consumed in the world went to catalytic converters in cars. The remaining rhodium went to glassmaking and chemical applications.

Rhodium itself is not that special. It has a white, silvery color, nothing to call home about. But it is in high demand and a limited supply, and that is what it makes rhodium one of the most expensive minerals.

Most Valuable Minerals for Their Beauty

Sure, I know you’re thinking that it’s not fair to compare diamonds (even tho they are minerals) and something like cobalt.

But remember, the value of minerals can vary wildly depending upon a variety of factors, so however you come up with any ranking of value, it will not make any sense whatsoever.

So instead, we will look at some values of a mineral for different reasons/in different situations, without putting a fixed value (or a ranking) on the mineral.

• Rubies: Valued for their red color and hardness, rubies have been a symbol of passion and power.
• Sapphires: These come in multiple colors, but the deep blue sapphire is more valued for beauty and durability than other colors.
• Emeralds: They are known for their green color and are popular for high price jewelry, however they are brittle.

Most Valuable Minerals for their Rarity

Certain minerals are valuable because they are scarce. Sometimes these minerals are so rare that they are sought after by collectors and specialists, and trade small amounts at astronomical prices.

• Painite: Painite has been labeled the world’s rarest mineral in the past, and is a borate mineral. Painite is a highly sought after mineral because of its rarity and unique crystal structure.
• Red Beryl: Also known as “red emerald” or “scarlet emerald,” red beryl is a rare mineral that has only been found in a few select areas of Utah, USA. Its rarity, combined with its vibrant red color, makes it even more valuable.
• Jadeite: A form of jade, jadeite is the most expensive and valuable variety of jade found on the world market. Its high value derives from its intense green color and hardness, primarily coming from Myanmar.

Most Valuable Minerals for their Industrial Use

Many minerals are also critical to industries for their unique qualities beyond their beauty and collectability.

• Graphite: As a primary component of lithium-ion batteries, graphite is used in brake linings, lubricants, and steelmaking.
• Copper: A necessary component of electrical wires, plumbing, and the manufacture of electronics because it is conductive and malleable.
• Bauxite: The primary ore of aluminum also plays a key role in aerospace, transportation, and construction due to its lightweight and strong properties.

Most Valuable Minerals for Technological Applications

Advances in technology have raised the importance of certain minerals to an essential status in modern applications.

• Silicon: Silicon is the backbone of the electronics industry, since it is used in the manufacture of semiconductors and solar panels.
• Gallium: Gallium is a metal that has a low melting point and is also able to conduct electricity, and thus is essential in semiconductors and light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
• Indium: This metal is crucial in making touch screens, LCDs, and solar panels because it is highly conductive and transparent.

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