Real wealth from rare metals?

"Obscured in the long shadow cast by towering gold and platinum, a little-known collection of other rare metals is sprouting and shooting up like Jack’s beanstalk right under investors’ noses," says Larry Edelson.

Here, the natural resources expert and editor of Real Wealth takes a look at companies involved in lesser-know metals that are increasingly important to to high technology world.

"With some notable exceptions, rare metals aren’t generally of much use by themselves. But in combination with more common metals, their unusual chemical properties allow the creation of 'super-alloys' with extraordinary capabilities needed for cutting-edge technologies.

"The more obscure metals may not be as sexy as the precious metals and certainly don’t get as much attention. But  they enable many technologies vital to modern industry.

"For example, to combat soaring fuel costs th