Niobium

Rare and exotic, Niobium has a number of unique properties. Relatively light and extremely heat resistant, Niobium-derived alloys have been used in the construction of spacecraft and nuclear reactors for centuries, while at lower temperatures Niobium acts as an effective Superconductor. But aside from its practical uses, Niobium is also visually distinctive. When anodized using an electric current, Niobium turns a range of iridescent colors. This property makes it a natural subject for the jeweler's art.