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Symbol: Dy
Lanthanide and rare earth metal
Dysprosium is not found free in nature but is found in a number of minerals: mainly
monazite and bastnäsite,
where it occurs as an impurity. When present in compounds, dysprosium exists usually in the trivalent state,
Dy3+.
Crystal system: Hexagonal
Specific gravity: 8.536
Colour: Silvery white
Solubility: Tarnishes slowly in air at room temperature and dissolves in both dilute and concentrated acids
(ChC).
Magnetism: Dysprosium and holmium have the highest magnetic strengths
of any elements
(ChC).
Melting point: 1410oC
Boiling point: 2560oC
Abundance in the Earth's crust: 6 parts per million by mass, 790 parts per billion by moles
(ChC).
Abundance in the Solar System: 2 parts per billion by mass, 10 parts per trillion by moles
(ChC).
Dysprosium-bearing minerals include:
Carbonates - the carbonate anion is (CO3)2-
lepersonnite-(Gd)
lokkaite-(Y)
mineevite-(Y)
The IMA formulae for these minerals does not include Dy, but the Mindat formulae do include Dy, substituting
for some Gd and Y.
Tungstates - the tungstate anion is (WO4)2-
paraniite-(Y)
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