Gold

Gold has been and is the most sought after metal in history. The Gold Standard was used to peg value of currencies. Even today, gold is stored in state reserves as an insurance to maintain currencies. Gold does not react with most chemicals, thus is perfect in making jewelry. It is the most malleable and ductile metal. The downfall is that in jewelry making, gold has to be alloyed with other metals to harden it.

Gold is mined from: South Africa, former Soviet-Union, Australia, USA
Hardness of gold: 2.5-3
Chemical symbol of gold: Au
Melting point of pure gold 24kt: 1945ºF /1063 ºC

Silver

Melting point of pure silver: 1761ºF /961ºC

Platinum

Melting point of pure platinum: 3224ºF /1773ºC

Rhodium

Melting point of pure Rhodium: 3571ºF /1966ºC

Palladium

Melting point of pure palladium: 2831ºF /1555ºC