Not having a go but making a point. I would have thought regular...

Not having a go but making a point.
I would have thought regular posters would distinguish between rare metals and rare earth elements (metals).

Gold and platinum are rare metals, as are a number of the unstable high atomic number ones.
Rare Earths Elements are actually not that rare but have specific properties e.g. Nd, Dy, Tb, Pr.

There has been a helluva lot of discussion on most of the individual REE's above, not surprising as they are a very specialised field.

As for running out of puff sure (and I think you're being kind).