99.95% pure iridium metal cube
Here's a one-inch cube made out of 99.95% pure iridium metal, the world's largest item ever made out of iridium. Yes, you heard us correctly, the largest item ever made out of iridium. Over $25,000 worth of iridium and thousands to manufacture this cube making this one of the most expensive cubes we have ever made (except for osmium and rhodium 25.4mm cubes)! The weight on the scale proves this as based on the weight of over 370 grams, nothing else in the universe (osmium would weigh just a smidgen more) could weigh this much in such a small space. Of course, a fake made out of osmium would make little sense, as they are both extremely rare, extremely expensive, and almost impossible to work with. What would be the point of that and to boot osmium looks blue, so it would be extremely easy to tell which metal was iridium or osmium.
This metal is twice as heavy as lead but is, unfortunately, a property very few people will get the chance to experience. You see, iridium is breathtakingly rare and expensive. That it is mined at all is really only due to it riding shotgun as a minor "contaminant" of other precious metals, particularly platinum-bearing ores.
Most of the annual supply of iridium is turned into crucibles: shot glass-shaped molds that can withstand extremely high temperatures without melting or corroding. These crucibles are bank-breakingly expensive acquisitions for even well-funded laboratories... not exactly the type of item you expect to find on eBay.
Iridium is also notoriously difficult to work with. The metal refuses to melt (which again explains why they'd be made into crucibles) so shaping it requires special methods. While not brittle it is nevertheless very inelastic. An imaginary lengthy bar made of pure iridium could be made and when held up would shatter under its own weight rather than bend even a little.
While "only" as expensive as gold - currently a bit less, actually - the difficulties in manufacturing push it well past the price point of the yellow metal in finished products. These little cubes are no different and the king's ransom of a price for each reflects the high cost of labor and specialized equipment used in their making.
We do sell 10mm cubes which weigh in at 21.9±0.3g. Larger cubes are possible on a made-to-order basis if you have money burning a hole in your pocket. We do have 10mm cubes in stock and you would be one of the few people (less than 100) on earth to own a pure anything made out of iridium, let alone a perfect, beautiful cube that is a true piece of artwork!
Buy your iridium cube here from Luciteria Science: luciteria.com/metal-cubes/iri...
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