Five rare earth studies explore hydrogen catalysts, metal recycling, microbial detection, MXene membranes, and magnetic cooling—but most remain years from
Element Profile
Erbium
Symbol
Er
Atomic number
68
Group
Heavy rare earth
Properties
Density
9.07 g/cm³
Melting point
1529 °C
Boiling point
2868 °C
Crustal abundance
3.5 ppm
Supply Risk
Supply risk
High
Geological scarcity
Medium
Primary economic driver
Fiber-optic amplifiers and glass coloring
Overview
About Erbium
Erbium (Er, atomic number 68) is a heavy rare earth metal best known for boosting the light signals that carry data through long-distance fiber-optic cables. It also colors glass pink and powers lasers used by dentists and dermatologists. As of August 2026, nearly all separated erbium came from China, according to IEEE Spectrum. China moved to put erbium under export licensing in October 2025 and then suspended the rule for a year.
What erbium is
Erbium is a soft, malleable, silvery-white metal in the lanthanide series and one of the heavy rare earth elements. Its compounds are pink, a color Los Alamos National Laboratory compares to pink lemonade (LANL). Like the other rare earths, it occurs mixed with its chemical neighbors and has to be separated from them by ion exchange or solvent extraction.
The physical properties listed on this page are from the Royal Society of Chemistry periodic table.
Discovery and name
Swedish chemist Carl Gustaf Mosander found erbium in the 1840s in gadolinite, a mineral from the quarry at Ytterby, Sweden. He split what he first took to be yttria into two other oxides, which he named erbia and terbia. Another chemist later swapped the two names, and the mix-up between erbium and terbium lasted more than two decades (LANL). Erbium is named after Ytterby. Pure erbium metal was not made until 1934, by Wilhelm Klemm and Heinrich Bommer (RSC).
Why fiber-optic networks need erbium
Light fades as it travels through glass fiber, so long-distance cables need amplifiers along the way. Erbium amplifiers do that job without converting the signal to electricity (University of Southampton). An erbium-doped fiber amplifier holds 10 to 30 meters of fiber laced with erbium. A pump laser excites the erbium atoms, and the weak incoming signal triggers them to release light at about 1,550 nanometers. That is the wavelength where silica fiber loses the least signal, IEEE Spectrum reported in August 2026. The amplifiers sit every 80 to 120 kilometers on land cables and every 50 to 80 kilometers on undersea cables.
The device came out of the University of Southampton in 1987, when Robert Mears and colleagues in David Payne's group published what the university calls the first practical optical amplifier (University of Southampton). It let signals travel hundreds of miles without electronic conversion, which made long-distance bandwidth cheap.
Other uses
- Glass color and filters. Erbium oxide tints glass pink. It also absorbs infrared light, so it goes into welders' safety glasses, laser safety glasses, some sunglasses and imitation gems (RSC, LANL). IEEE Spectrum names glass coloring and fiber amplifiers as the two applications that dominate the erbium market.
- Dental and medical lasers. Erbium lasers are used in dentistry, skin treatment and other laser surgery (LANL). The FDA cleared the Er:YAG laser for use on tooth enamel and dentin in 1997. The laser rapidly turns water in the tooth to vapor, and the expansion breaks up the tooth structure (DentistryIQ).
- Nuclear fuel. Erbium absorbs neutrons. Russia's fuel maker TVEL has made uranium-erbium fuel for RBMK reactors. In December 2024 Rosatom reported that VVER-type fuel containing erbium was being tested in a research reactor (World Nuclear News).
- Optical materials. Erbium fluoride is used in fiber optics and other optical applications (LANL).
Where erbium comes from
The Royal Society of Chemistry and Los Alamos name monazite and bastnaesite as erbium's main ores. The U.S. Geological Survey says heavy rare earths are elevated in ion-adsorption clays. Unlike bastnaesite ores, those clays are valued for their medium and heavy rare earth content (USGS MCS 2026; USGS PP 1802-O). China mines those clays in its southeastern provinces. Global Witness reported in May 2024 that Myanmar had become the largest single source of heavy rare earths, with the material shipped to China for processing. Global Witness linked that expansion to environmental damage and harm to local communities.
Separation is the narrower step. A Tronox executive told IEEE Spectrum in August 2026 that he knew of no one outside China making erbium oxide at commercial scale. USGS trade data show Germany and the Netherlands supplied most U.S. imports of erbium compounds and metals in 2021–24, with China at 40% (USGS MCS 2026). USGS says material from those European suppliers was made from concentrates and intermediates produced elsewhere.
Export controls and supply risk
Erbium was not among the seven rare earths China placed under export licensing in April 2025 (Pillsbury). On October 9, 2025, China's Ministry of Commerce moved to add erbium, holmium, thulium, europium and ytterbium in Announcement No. 57, according to Pillsbury. The rule covered their metals, alloys, oxides, compounds and mixtures (CIRS). On November 7, 2025, before the rule took effect, China suspended it under Announcement No. 70 (CIRS). The suspension was set to end on November 10, 2026. As of early October 2026, China had not announced a formal extension.
For erbium, IEEE Spectrum described China's share of the market as essentially 100% in August 2026. Fiber networks are built around erbium amplifiers, so the licensing question reaches the rare earth supply chain well beyond magnets. IEEE Spectrum also reported that erbium is held in the U.S. National Defense Stockpile. The Defense Logistics Agency runs the stockpile and does not comment on what it holds, IEEE noted. USGS lists no government stockpile of heavy rare earths (USGS MCS 2026).
Supply outside China (as of October 2026)
Lynas Rare Earths separates dysprosium and terbium in Malaysia. In October 2025 it announced a larger heavy rare earth plant there. Erbium was not on the initial product list. Lynas said it would consider adding erbium, along with europium, holmium and ytterbium, if commercial agreements justify the cost (Lynas ASX announcement). REEx found no announcement of separated erbium output outside China as of October 2026.
Recycling
The Royal Society of Chemistry puts erbium's recycling rate below 10% (RSC). For heavy rare earths as a group, USGS reported that only small quantities were recovered in 2025, from permanent magnets.
What drives erbium demand and supply
Demand follows fiber buildouts, especially long-haul and undersea cables that need amplifiers at regular intervals. Glass coloring and medical lasers add to it. Supply depends on China's licensing decisions and on whether a separator outside China, such as Lynas, decides erbium is worth adding.
Frequently asked questions
What is erbium used for?
Mainly in erbium-doped fiber amplifiers, which boost light signals in long-distance fiber-optic cables, and as a pink colorant for glass. It is also used in infrared-blocking safety glasses, dental and skin lasers, and as a neutron absorber in some nuclear fuel.
Why is erbium used in fiber-optic amplifiers?
Excited erbium atoms release light at about 1,550 nanometers, the wavelength where silica fiber loses the least signal. That lets an amplifier boost the signal directly, without converting it to electricity.
Who discovered erbium?
Swedish chemist Carl Gustaf Mosander found it in the 1840s in gadolinite from Ytterby, Sweden, the village it is named after. Pure erbium metal was first made in 1934.
Where does erbium come from?
Erbium occurs in monazite and bastnaesite and is more concentrated in ion-adsorption clays, found mainly in southern China and Myanmar. As of August 2026, nearly all separated erbium oxide was produced in China, according to IEEE Spectrum.
Does China restrict erbium exports?
China moved to add erbium to its export licensing list in October 2025 under Announcement No. 57. In November 2025, before that rule took effect, China suspended it until November 10, 2026. As of early October 2026, China had not announced an extension of the suspension.
Primary Uses
- Erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (long-haul and undersea telecom)
- Pink glass and ceramic colorant
- Infrared-absorbing safety glasses and filters
- Dental, dermatology and surgical lasers (Er:YAG)
- Burnable neutron absorber in nuclear fuel
- Optical materials (erbium fluoride)
Producing Projects
Companies
Found in Products
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