Discovered by J. C. G. De Marignac at Geneva, Switzerland.
Remarks
Soft, sivery-white metal of the lanthanide (rare earth) group. Slowly oxidized by air, reacts with water. Some use in stress gauges.
Diagnostic tests:
There are no simple diagnostic tests to identify ytterbium.
X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy is commonly employed to identify and
analyze members of the Rare-Earth group elements.
References
Emsley, J., 1991; THE ELEMENTS : Sec. Ed.,
Clarendon Press, Oxford, 251 p.
(* - Mineral Name Is Not IMA Approved)
(! - New Dana classification added or changed from Danas New Mineralogy)
(? - IMA Discredited Mineral Species Name)
There are 45 minerals with Yb in the Mineralogy Database.