Atomic properties
Market data
Raw material sources & pricing
| Raw Material Form | Grade/Content | Price Paid by Refiners | Major Sources | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ion-Adsorption Clay | 0.01-0.05% Tb₄O₇ | $250-350/MT REO | Southern China, Myanmar | Primary source for heavy REE |
| Bastnäsite Concentrate | 0.001-0.005% Tb₄O₇ | $8,000-12,000/MT REO | China, USA, Australia | Byproduct of light REE production |
| Monazite Concentrate | 0.002-0.01% Tb₄O₇ | $2,000-3,000/MT | India, Brazil, Australia | Radioactive (thorium content) |
| Xenotime | 0.5-2% Tb₄O₇ | $25,000-35,000/MT | Malaysia, China, Brazil | Rich in heavy REE |
Ion-Adsorption Clays - Primary Source
Current Market Price: $250-350/MT REO (varies by heavy REE content) Major Global Reserves: China (Southern Provinces): ~90% of global ion-adsorption clay reserves Myanmar: Significant deposits (currently halted due to geopolitical instability) Brazil: Small emerging deposits Madagascar: Exploration stage deposits 2025 Production Leaders: China: 95%+ of global terbium production Myanmar: Production halted (previously ~50% of heavy REE supply) Australia (Lynas): Starting heavy REE production mid-2025 Raw Material Form Grade/Content Price Paid by Refiners Major Sources Notes Ion-Adsorption Clay 0.01-0.05% Tb₄O₇ $250-350/MT REO Southern China, Myanmar Primary source for heavy REE Bastnäsite Concentrate 0.001-0.005% Tb₄O₇ $8,000-12,000/MT REO China, USA, Australia Byproduct of light REE product
⚠️ Seawater Terbium Extraction
Commercial Viability: NOT ECONOMICALLY VIABLE Concentration: ~0.00014 ppb (extremely low) Chemical Form: Tb³⁺ complexes with carbonate and hydroxide Status: No commercial seawater terbium extraction exists. The extremely low concentration (1,000× lower than uranium) and complex separation requirements make extraction uneconomical. Note: Research continues on bioaccumulation methods using specialized organisms, but no commercial applications exist.
Production cost analysis
| Cost Component | $/kg Terbium Metal | % of Total Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw Material (Clay/Ore) | $400-600 | 25-30% | Highly dependent on ore grade |
| Separation/Extraction | $600-800 | 35-40% | Ion exchange, solvent extraction |
| Conversion to Metal | $200-300 | 10-15% | Metallothermic reduction |
| Purification | $150-250 | 8-12% | Vacuum distillation/sublimation |
| Labor & Overhead | $250-350 | 12-18% | Specialized facilities required |
| Total Production Cost | $1,600-2,300 | 100% | Compare to selling price: $1,800-2,000/kg |
Energy consumption breakdown
| Process Stage | Energy Consumption | % of Total Energy | Energy Type | Key Operations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mining & Beneficiation | 50-70 MJ/kg | 10-13% | Diesel/Electricity | Excavation, crushing, flotation |
| Acid Leaching | 80-100 MJ/kg | 16-18% | Steam/Natural Gas | H₂SO₄ digestion at 60-90°C |
| Solvent Extraction | 150-180 MJ/kg | 30-33% | Electricity | Multi-stage separation, HDEHP process |
| Ion Exchange | 100-120 MJ/kg | 20-22% | Electricity | Column operations, regeneration |
| Metal Reduction | 70-80 MJ/kg | 14-15% | Electricity/Argon | Ca reduction at 1,450°C under Ar |
Separation Process Details
Acid Dissolution: Ore treatment with H₂SO₄ Impurity Removal: Fe, Al, Th precipitation Group Separation: Light/heavy REE split Individual REE Separation: 50-200 stages Precipitation: Oxalate/carbonate formation Calcination: Conversion to oxide at 800°C
Metal Production Details
Fluoride Conversion: TbF₃ formation with HF Metallothermic Reduction: Ca + 2TbF₃ → 2Tb + 3CaF₂ Vacuum Distillation: Ca removal at 1,450°C Sublimation: 99.99% purity achievement Ingot Casting: Under inert atmosphere
Commercial forms & specifications
| Product Form | Chemical Formula | Molecular Weight | Typical Purity | Price Range (USD/kg) | Main Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terbium Metal | Tb | 158.93 g/mol | 99.9-99.99% | $1,800-2,000 | Terfenol-D alloys, research |
| Terbium Oxide | Tb₄O₇ | 747.70 g/mol | 99.95-99.999% | $880-1,000 | Green phosphors, fuel cells |
| Terbium Fluoride | TbF₃ | 215.92 g/mol | 99.9-99.99% | $1,200-1,400 | Optical coatings, ceramics |
| Terbium Chloride | TbCl₃·6H₂O | 373.38 g/mol | 99.9-99.99% | $900-1,100 | Chemical synthesis, catalysts |
| Terbium Nitrate | Tb(NO₃)₃·6H₂O | 453.03 g/mol | 99.9-99.99% | $850-1,050 | Phosphor precursor |
| Terbium Acetate | Tb(C₂H₃O₂)₃·4H₂O | 408.08 g/mol | 99.9% | $950-1,150 | Chemical reagent |
| Terbium Sulfate | Tb₂(SO₄)₃·8H₂O | 766.08 g/mol | 99.9% | $800-950 | Research applications |
| Terbium Foil | Tb | 158.93 g/mol | 99.9% | $2,500-3,000 | Sputtering targets |
| Terbium Rod/Wire | Tb | 158.93 g/mol | 99.9% | $2,200-2,600 | Research, alloy production |
| Tb-doped Phosphors | Various | Variable | 1-5% Tb | $150-500 | LED, fluorescent lamps |
| Terbium-161 (Medical) | ¹⁶¹TbCl₃ | Variable | 99.998% RCP | $50,000-100,000/GBq | Cancer therapy |
Suppliers by country
🇨🇳 China
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| China Northern Rare Earth | Oxide, metal, compounds | Integrated producer, world's largest REE company |
| China Rare Earth Holdings | Oxide, fluoride, chloride | Ion-adsorption clay processing |
| Shenghe Resources | Mixed REE concentrates, oxides | Heavy rare earth specialist |
| Xiamen Tungsten | High-purity metals, compounds | Advanced separation technology |
🇦🇺 Australia
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Lynas Rare Earths | Mixed heavy REE, oxides (from 2025) | Non-Chinese integrated producer |
| Arafura Resources | NdPr + SEG/heavy REE (planned) | Nolans project (under development) |
🇺🇸 United States
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Stanford Materials Corporation | Metal, oxide, compounds, foils | High-purity materials supplier |
| American Elements | Metal forms, compounds, nanopowders | Research-grade materials |
| Alfa Aesar (Thermo Fisher) | Research chemicals, metal forms | Laboratory scale supplier |
🇪🇺 Europe
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Less Common Metals (UK) | Metal, alloys, compounds | Terfenol-D production |
| Treibacher Industrie (Austria) | High-purity compounds | Phosphor-grade materials |
| Solvay (Belgium) | Separated rare earth products | La Rochelle plant |
🇯🇵 Japan
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Shin-Etsu Chemical | High-purity oxides, compounds | Electronic-grade materials |
| Santoku Corporation | Metal, alloys | Rare earth alloys specialist |
Market demand by product form
| Application | Annual Consumption (MT) | % of Total | Growth Rate (CAGR) | Key Markets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Phosphors | 180-200 | 55-60% | 3-4% | LED lighting, displays |
| Magneto-optical Storage | 30-40 | 10-12% | -2% | Data storage (declining) |
| Fuel Cells (SOFC) | 25-30 | 8-9% | 12-15% | Stationary power, automotive |
| Terfenol-D Alloys | 20-25 | 6-7% | 8-10% | Actuators, sonar, sensors |
| Medical Isotopes | 5-8 | 2-3% | 20-25% | Cancer therapy (Tb-161) |
| Permanent Magnets | 15-20 | 5-6% | 10-12% | High-temp applications |
| Other (Research, etc.) | 20-30 | 6-9% | 5-7% | Various emerging uses |
Market trends
Supply Crisis: Myanmar mining halt removes ~50% of heavy REE supply, causing price volatility Medical Applications: Tb-161 for targeted cancer therapy showing 20-25% annual growth Non-Chinese Production: Lynas (Australia) starting heavy REE separation mid-2025 Price Volatility: 375% price increase 2017-2022, followed by 45% correction in 2023 Geopolitical Risk: US-China trade tensions affecting rare earth supply chains Green Technology: Solid oxide fuel cells driving 12-15% annual demand growth Phosphor Evolution: LED technology reducing terbium content per unit but increasing total volume Recycling: Lamp phosphor recycling recovering 10-15% of terbium demand
Moles per kilogram
| Product Form | Formula | MW (g/mol) | Moles/kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terbium Metal | Tb | 158.93 | 6.29 |
| Terbium(III) Oxide | Tb₂O₃ | 365.85 | 2.73 |
| Terbium(III,IV) Oxide | Tb₄O₇ | 747.70 | 1.34 |
| Terbium Fluoride | TbF₃ | 215.92 | 4.63 |
| Terbium Chloride (hydrated) | TbCl₃·6H₂O | 373.38 | 2.68 |
| Terbium Nitrate (hydrated) | Tb(NO₃)₃·6H₂O | 453.03 | 2.21 |
| Terbium Sulfate (hydrated) | Tb₂(SO₄)₃·8H₂O | 766.08 | 1.31 |
References
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