Ytterbium

ytterbium

xenotime

hingganite

keiviite

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Formula: Yb
Ytterbium is a lanthanide and a rare earth element; it does not exist naturally in the native state on Earth, but micrograins have been found in Moon rocks.
Crystal System: Isometric
Specific gravity: 6.97
Colour: Silvery white
Melting point: 824^oC, 1097 K
Boiling point: 1200^oC, 1473 K
Solubility: Dissolves rapidly in mineral acids (ChC)
Abundance: In the earth’s crust: 3 parts per million by weight, 0.3 parts per million by moles; in the solar system: 1 part per billion by weight, 10 parts per trillion by moles (ChC).
When present in compounds, ytterbium exists in the trivalent state, Yb³⁺.

Ytterbium-bearing minerals include:

Oxides - the oxide anion is O^2-
samarskite-(Yb)

Phosphates - the phosphate anion is (P⁵⁺O₄)^3-
xenotime-(Yb)

Nesosilicates - insular (Si⁴⁺O₄)^4- groups
hingganite-(Yb)

Sorosilicates - (Si⁴⁺₂O₇)^6- groups
keiviite-(Yb)

Inosilicates - double chain - (Si⁴⁺_4nO_11n)^6n-
caysichite-(Y)

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