Chemistry for Everyone
Rediscovery of the Elements: Ytterby Gruva (Ytterby Mine) James L. Marshall* and Virginia R. Marshall Department of Chemistry, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203-5070; *
[email protected] The Ytterby Mine in Sweden, the derivation of the names of four of the rare earth elements (yttrium, ytterbium, terbium, and erbium), is famous for its mineralogical treasures (1). Unfortunately, there is confusion regarding both the location and the status of this mine: in previous papers in this Journal, the wrong “Ytterby” was identified (2) (Ytterby, meaning outer village, is a common name in Sweden), and later it was erroneously reported that the mine could no longer be found (3). As part of our Rediscovery of the Elements series (4), we were able to locate and visit this historic site, and we report herein our findings for future potential explorers.
Figures 1–3 give explicit details on how to find the Ytterby Mine, which is located on Resarö Island about 15 km northeast of Stockholm.1 Formerly accessible only by boat, the Ytterby region can be reached from Stockholm by a 30-km automobile trip (Figs. 1, 2). At the end of the journey (Fig. 3), a trail of 100 meters leads one from the road to the mine. A plaque, erected by the ASM International, marks the beginning of the trail. The mine itself has been plugged for safety, although the abundant feldspar and quartzite scattered about the entrance attest to its original purpose.2 Some of the elements and minerals at the Ytterby Mine are
Figure 1. To reach the Ytterby Mine area, drive north from Stockholm on E18 for about 17 km to intersection A, the intersection of E18 and highway 274. (“A” = 59° 27.36′ N, 18° 08.16′ E.) At intersection A, turn right (east) on 274 and proceed 12 km to intersection B (not clearly marked), which proceeds onto Resarö Island. (“B” = 59° 25.03′ N, 18° 18.59′ E.)
Figure 2. Once on Resarö Island, at intersection B, turn left (east) and proceed 2 km to intersection C, Ytterbysvägen. (“C” = 59° 25.73′ N, 18° 20.14′ E). At intersection C, turn right (southeast) and proceed 1 km to the mine plaque D.
Figure 3. The mine plaque is off the road, hidden in the greenery and not immediately obvious. (“D” = 59° 25.57′ N, 18° 21.20′ E.) One hundred meters north of the road is the mine X. (“X” = 59° 25.60′ N, 18° 21.21′ E.) One hundred meters north of the mine X is a gate leading to Gruvväg and then the parking lot E. (“E” = 59° 25.66′ N, 18° 21.21′ E.) Another way to reach the mine is to go around Isterburgsväg (north) and then Fältspatväg (west) and then Gruvväg (south) to the parking lot E. A number of the streets about the mine are named after three of the elements (yttrium, terbium, and tantalum), feldspar (“fältspats”), mica (“glimmer”), and the mine itself (“gruva”). Feldspar was formerly mined from Ytterby and was used in the porcelain trade.
JChemEd.chem.wisc.edu • Vol. 78 No. 10 October 2001 • Journal of Chemical Education
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Chemistry for Everyone
commemorated by streets in the area named after the elements and minerals (see Fig. 3): yttrium, terbium, tantalum, feldspar, and mica. An exhibit on the mine, which includes some photographs and implements, can be viewed in the Vaxholm Fortress Museum (Kastellet Försvarsmuseum) located on a small island off Vaxholm Island (Vaxön). Vaxholm may be reached by automobile, about 5 km from Ytterby (see Fig. 1), but the fortress with its museum must be reached by ferry from the Vaxholm dock on the extreme eastern side of Vaxholm Island. The minerals for which the Ytterby Mine became famous are gadolinite, (Y,RE)2FeBeSi2O10 (RE = rare earth element), and yttrotantalite, YTaO4. Our analysis of a sample of gadolinite from this mine3 gave the incredibly high concentrations of Y (16%), Tb (2%), Dy (2%), Tm (5%), and Yb (3%) (5). Photographs of specimens of gadolinite, yttrotantalite, feldspar, and quartzite from this famous mine are available (5). Acknowledgments Extreme gratitude is extended to Dan Holstam, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden, and E. Thomas Strom, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX (6 ), for helping us to locate the Ytterby Mine and for additional information regarding the history of the mine.
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Notes 1. GPS latitude and longitude coordinates and maps were constructed by use of a Garmin model GPS 92, Olathe, KS. Specifications include an accuracy of 15 m rms, subject to a 100-m degradation. We have noted an absolute maximum error of 70 m by observation of a known site over two years. 2. The Ytterby Mine was a source of feldspar and quartz for the porcelain trade in Great Britain and Poland. The mine opened in the 1750s and was closed in 1933. 3. The samples were analyzed by EDX (energy dispersive Xray) with a detectability level of 0.5% (7 ).
Literature Cited 1. Weeks, M. E. Discovery of the Elements, 7th ed.; Journal of Chemical Education: Easton, PA, 1968. 2. Ball, D. W. J. Chem. Educ. 1985, 62, 787–788. 3. Ball, D. W. J. Chem. Educ. 1987, 64, 472. 4. Marshall, J. L.; Marshall, V. R. The Hexagon of Alpha Chi Sigma 2000, 41, 43–45; 2001, 42, 4–5. 5. Marshall, J. L.; Marshall, V. R. Walking Tour of the Elements [CD-ROM]; JMC Services: Denton, TX, 2000. This figure also appears on the front cover of J. Chem. Educ. 2000, 77 (8) and is described in Marshall, J. L. J. Chem. Educ. 2000, 77, 1119. 6. Strom, E. T. The Southwest Retort 1991, 45 (4), 5–6. 7. Marshall, J. L. The Discovery of the Elements; Simon & Schuster: New York, 1998.
Journal of Chemical Education • Vol. 78 No. 10 October 2001 • JChemEd.chem.wisc.edu
