closed Ruthenium arc-melted 1 toz ingots, 99.95 $750

[JoeLS]

This item ships from Lodi, Wisconsin USA

At atomic number 44, ruthenium (Ru) is the lightest member of the platinum group metals (PGMs), a group of six chemically similar noble metals that sit together on the periodic table. The other five PGMs are platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, and osmium. Ruthenium lies below iron and above osmium on the periodic table, and has chemical similarities to both. Like all platinum group metals, ruthenium is quite rare, with total worldwide annual production of only about 35 tons, 100 times less than annual gold production. It is used as a catalyst, in magnetic memory devices, in super-hard alloys with other platinum group metals, and in a growing number of other applications. Ruthenium generally is traded as a fine powder (see my other listings). Unlike platinum, palladium, and (now) rhodium, ruthenium is rarely available as ingots of fused metal. Although solid ingots of ruthenium made of sintered powder are available, the beautiful,  complex, and pearlescent luster of this metal-- to my mind the most beautiful of the platinum group metals-- can be fully appreciated only in relatively large fused pieces, such that offered here.

At the moment ruthenium is a bargain. It is the least expensive of the PGMs. The "spot price" of ruthenium is about $280/toz. Its real price is about $380. However, like the other PGMs (except platinum), the price of ruthenium is prone to infrequent but large spikes. Since the early '80s I've seen ruthenium prices range between $17 and $700/toz. Like the other minor PGMs (iridium and osmium) ruthenium is very slowly changing from a purely industrial metal traded as powder into an investment metal traded as ingots, coins, and other convenient forms of bullion. This does not make ruthenium a good investment, however, unless sitting and waiting for lightening to strike is a good strategy (maybe it is). The main reason to own ruthenium is that it is beautiful, fun, and just really cool. It's just not something to hoard if you're worried about a zombie apocalypse .
 

Note: My price is based on my costs (purchase of raw osmium metal, fabrication of ingot, and shipping). I aim for a 30-40% profit, which I think is fair, considering the time and effort, not to mention the risk it takes to get these things.

[TheSilverForum]

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