Europium

Primary Applications

Red and blue phosphors, display technologies, fluorescent lighting, security inks

Mining Significance

Europium is a relatively scarce rare earth element recovered as a minor component of mixed rare-earth ores. It commonly accompanies other REEs in minerals such as monazite and bastnäsite, and its low concentration requires highly selective separation during refining. Historically, its phosphor applications have made even small recovered quantities economically significant.

Industries

None listed
63
Eu
Europium
151.96

Key Properties

  • Soft, silvery rare-earth metal and one of the most reactive lanthanides.
  • Unusually stable +2 oxidation state in addition to the common +3 state.
  • Europium compounds produce strong red and blue luminescence.
  • Relatively low density and melting point among the lanthanides.
  • Occurs only in low concentrations within mixed rare-earth minerals.