ytterbite

9.9

A dark mineral that contains rare metals like yttrium and was once used to get these metals

noun
/ˈɪtərˌbaɪt/

Archaic

: ytterbita

The geologist identified the black specimen as ytterbite, which was once the principal source of yttrium.

Examples

Samples of ytterbite were sent to European laboratories for further analysis in the 19th century.
Early chemists first isolated several rare earth elements from ytterbite.
The ytterbite sample was examined under a microscope.
Many ytterbites were found in the old mine.
Early chemists first isolated several rare earth elements from ytterbite.
The geologist identified the black specimen as ytterbite, which was once the principal source of yttrium.
Samples of ytterbite were sent to European laboratories for further analysis in the 19th century.

Surface Forms

ytterbite singular

ytterbites plural

Morphology

ytterbite = Ytterby (opaque) = ytterby + ite

The name is formed from the place name Ytterby plus the mineral-forming suffix '-ite', which does not let a learner infer the mineral's composition or meaning from the base.

Etymology

Ytterbite is named after Ytterby, a village in Sweden where the mineral was first found, and the ending -ite is a common mineral suffix that means 'stone' or 'rock', so the name simply tells us it is a mineral from Ytterby.