Dysprosium FAQs

Dysprosium is a rare earth element known for its high reactivity and impressive magnetic properties. It’s typically found in oxide form as a beige or white powder and is crucial for technologies that require permanent magnets to perform at elevated temperatures.

In its metallic form, dysprosium is a silvery-grey, flexible metal that tarnishes quickly when exposed to air. Commercially, it’s most often encountered as a beige to white powder. This is dysprosium oxide, the form preferred in industrial applications and physical investment.

Dysprosium melts at approximately 1,407 °C. This relatively high melting point makes it suitable for high-temperature applications such as nuclear shielding and heat-resistant magnets.

Dysprosium is highly reactive. It oxidises readily in air, reacts with water to form hydroxides, and dissolves in diluted acids. Its reactivity is precisely what makes it valuable in certain industrial processes, especially those involving heat or exposure to corrosive environments.

Paul Émile Lecoq de Boisbaudran, a pioneer in rare earth chemistry, is credited with the discovery of dysprosium in 1886. He also discovered gallium, another critical metal used in modern electronics.

Dysprosium was discovered in 1886 by French chemist Paul Émile Lecoq de Boisbaudran. While studying holmium oxide, he identified the presence of a new element using spectral analysis. After painstaking separation, he isolated dysprosium oxide and named the element from the Greek “dysprositos,” meaning “hard to get.”

Dysprosium was discovered in France during de Boisbaudran’s work on rare earths. He managed to extract dysprosium from holmium oxide using fractional crystallisation, a complex and time-consuming process at the time.

Dysprosium is element number 66 on the periodic table. It sits in the lanthanide series, a group of 15 rare earth elements located in the f-block. While often shown as a separate row beneath the main table, dysprosium fits neatly between terbium (Tb) and holmium (Ho). Its symbol is Dy, and its atomic weight is approximately 162.50.

Dysprosium is not mined directly. It’s typically extracted from mineral ores such as bastnäsite and monazite, which contain a mixture of rare earth elements. These ores are primarily mined in China and then processed through complex chemical separation methods to isolate individual elements like dysprosium.

After extraction from ore, dysprosium is separated through solvent extraction or ion-exchange techniques. It is then converted into its oxide form or reduced to a metal, depending on its intended use.

China is the dominant global producer, responsible for the vast majority of the world’s dysprosium supply. Other sources include Australia and, to a lesser extent, Myanmar and India.

Dysprosium deposits are known to exist in China, the USA, Australia, and parts of Africa. However, not all reserves are economically viable to exploit due to extraction complexity and environmental restrictions.

Dysprosium is relatively scarce in mineable concentrations. Though not the rarest rare earth element by abundance in the Earth’s crust, its usable concentrations are limited, contributing to its high value.

Dysprosium is classified as a heavy rare earth element and is far less abundant than lighter rare earths like cerium or lanthanum. It makes up less than 0.001% of the Earth’s crust, and economic deposits are even more rare due to complex extraction requirements.

The US has known dysprosium reserves, particularly within the Mountain Pass mine in California. However, the infrastructure for extracting and processing dysprosium at scale remains underdeveloped compared to China’s capabilities. This is why dysprosium is on the U.S. critical minerals list.

Dysprosium is essential for producing high-performance permanent magnets that can operate under high temperatures, which is critical for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and defence applications. It also plays a role in nuclear reactor shielding and laser technology.

While not common in household items on its own, dysprosium is embedded in the technologies we rely on, such as electric car motors, smartphone speakers, and wind turbine generators. Its strength lies in the magnetic alloys it helps produce.

Dysprosium enhances the heat resistance of neodymium-iron-boron magnets. This makes them ideal for electric motors and generators that operate under extreme thermal conditions, such as those found in electric vehicles and renewable energy systems.

You’ll find dysprosium in permanent magnets, control rods in nuclear reactors, halogen lamps, certain types of lasers, and various high-performance electronics and alloys.

Dysprosium’s price is driven by a combination of limited supply, complex extraction methods, and high demand from future-focused sectors such as electric mobility, defence, and renewable energy. Moreover, geopolitical risks, particularly China’s dominance in production, contribute to supply uncertainty and price volatility.

Dysprosium is considered to have low toxicity. However, as with most rare earth elements, fine powders should not be inhaled or ingested. Proper industrial hygiene and safety protocols should be followed during handling.

No. Dysprosium itself is not radioactive. However, the ores it is extracted from can contain trace amounts of naturally occurring radioactive elements like thorium, so precautions are taken during mining and refining.

While small amounts of dysprosium oxide may be available through hobbyist or academic suppliers, those are not industry- or investment-grade. Strategic Metals Invest offers certified, high-purity dysprosium to private investors, including secure storage options and resale pathways to industry buyers.

You can invest by purchasing physical dysprosium oxide through specialist dealers. At Strategic Metals Invest, we provide access to certified stocks, stored in high-security vaults in Frankfurt, with full documentation and optional fractional ownership for diversified portfolios.

Dysprosium oxide should be stored in a sealed container, kept dry, and protected from oxidising environments. For serious investors, we recommend professional storage in METLOCK’s high-security facility in Frankfurt, where it remains in industry-standard packaging for optimal resale and insurance coverage.