The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word LUTETIUM
L
U
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M
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Rare metal" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case rare metal = lutetium.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does LUTETIUM mean?
LUTETIUM noun- A chemical element (symbol Lu) with an atomic number of 71, a silvery-white metal which resists corrosion in dry air.