真正的“价王”！铱金属长期稳居80万/公斤，背后逻辑揭秘

Core Insights - Iridium, a rare white metal, has maintained a high price of 800,000 RMB per kilogram, surpassing gold, due to its unique properties and scarcity [1] Group 1: Scarcity - Iridium is one of the rarest elements in the Earth's crust, with an annual global production of only about 8 tons, which is one-third of gold production [1] - It is primarily found in platinum or nickel ores, with independent deposits being extremely rare, contributing to its high value [1] Group 2: Mining and Refining - The extraction and refining of iridium are complex, requiring the processing of hundreds of tons of ore to obtain just one kilogram of iridium [2] - The high difficulty of separation and purification techniques, such as chemical dissolution and high-temperature smelting, further increases costs [2] Group 3: Irreplaceable Applications - Iridium has unique physical and chemical properties, including a melting point exceeding 2400°C and strong corrosion resistance, making it indispensable in various high-end applications [3][4][5] - It is used in critical industrial components, high-precision lasers, cosmic ray detectors, and as a strengthening agent in platinum for high-performance alloys [3][4][5] Group 4: Market Supply and Demand - The iridium market, while small, has a concentrated demand in high-tech and high-end manufacturing sectors, characterized by rigid demand [6] - Supply is highly concentrated, with South Africa and Russia being the primary producers, creating a fragile balance between scarce supply and stable demand, which helps maintain high prices [6] Group 5: Future Outlook - Demand for iridium is expected to steadily increase with the development of aerospace, new energy, and precision medical industries [7] - The discovery of new deposits is rare, and while recycling technology is improving, it remains limited in scale, ensuring iridium's position as a "price king" due to its scarcity and irreplaceability [7]