Discovered in: 1886

Discovered by: Paul Lecoq de Boisbaudran of France

Description: Named from the Greek word meaning "hard to obtain", dysprosium is a very soft silver metal, and can be cut with a knife. It is stable in air, but is reactive with water and acids. Dysprosium is used in certain magnet alloys, CD disks and lasers. Dysprosium absorbs neutrons, so it has potential for use as control rods in nuclear reactors. It also is used in alloys, especially with stainless steel.

Biological Rating: No known benefits for life processes in plants and animals. Biological Benefits: Dysprosium has no known biological use.

Percentage Amount in the Human Body: Near 0 %

Obtained from: Dysprosium is chiefly obtained from bastnasite and monazite, where it occurs as an impurity. Other dysprosium-bearing minerals include euxenite, fergusonite, gadolinite and polycrase. It is mined in the USA, China Russia, Australia, and India