Here's what makes it special:

* Kinetic energy is conserved: The total kinetic energy of the system before the collision is equal to the total kinetic energy after the collision. This means that while kinetic energy can be transferred between the colliding particles, no energy is lost as heat, sound, or deformation.

* Momentum is conserved: This is true for all collisions, elastic or inelastic. Momentum, a measure of mass in motion, is always conserved in a closed system.

Examples of near-elastic collisions:

* Billiard balls colliding: While some energy is lost to sound and friction, the transfer of kinetic energy is fairly efficient.

* Atoms colliding in a gas: At low temperatures, collisions between gas molecules are almost perfectly elastic.

* The collision of two marbles on a smooth surface: Again, some energy will be lost to friction and sound, but it's minimal.

Important Note: Perfectly elastic collisions are theoretical idealizations. In the real world, some energy is always lost due to factors like friction, heat generation, and sound production.