What makes a Precious Metal

Like gemstones, one of the characteristics of a precious metal is its rarity. It could not be "precious" if it were common! Two other characteristics are also important. Foremost is durability - it must not easily corrode away, nor can it be brittle. And that is related to the third characteristic, ductility. This means that the metal must be malleable, that it can be bent, hammered, or otherwise shaped. gold is the most malleable of metals (it can be hammered into incredibly thin foils or drawn into extremely fine wires), it does not corrode or dissolve except under the most extreme conditions. It is so durable that nearly all of the gold ever mined is still in circulation or storage.