Originally Posted by
DannoXYZ
Heck, in Russia, titanium-ore is so plentiful, I was able to walk into a corner hardware-store and by titanium shovels and hammers!!!
Titanium is the 9th most abundant element on earth so scarcity has nothing to do with its high cost. The difficulty (and expense) is in getting the elemental metalic form from the ore and the further difficulty shaping and forming the final metal.