Primary Applications
Fiber-optic amplifiers, lasers, specialty glass, ceramics
Mining Significance
Erbium is a heavy rare earth generally recovered as a minor constituent of mixed REE ores, including xenotime and some rare-earth-bearing pegmatites and placers. Its separation from adjacent lanthanides requires multi-stage hydrometallurgical processing. Demand is driven particularly by optical and laser applications rather than bulk metal use.
