Ytterbite (Noun)
Meaning
A mineral that is a source of rare earths; consists of silicates of iron and beryllium and cerium and yttrium and erbium.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- Ytterbite is a rare mineral that was discovered in the 19th century and is found in limited quantities around the world.
- The chemical composition of ytterbite includes a combination of silicates of iron, beryllium, cerium, yttrium, and erbium.
- Ytterbite is often found in pegmatites, which are coarse-grained igneous rocks that are rich in rare minerals.
- The mineral ytterbite is named after the village of Ytterby in Sweden, where it was first discovered in the 18th century.
- Ytterbite is an important source of rare earth elements, which are used in a variety of high-tech applications.