Ytterby mine

Historic mine on a Stockholm archipelago island where four chemical elements were discovered — yttrium, erbium, terbium and ytterbium, all named after the site.

The Ytterby mine on the island of Resarö in the Stockholm archipelago is one of the most significant sites in the history of chemistry. Over the course of the 18th and 19th centuries, no fewer than four chemical elements were discovered here: yttrium, erbium, terbium and ytterbium — all four named after the tiny village of Ytterby. The mine operated from 1756 primarily for quartz and feldspar; the unusual mineral richness of the rock attracted chemists from across Europe. Johan Gadolin analysed material extracted here in 1794 and identified the first rare-earth metal. The mine is now decommissioned but accessible as a heritage site and is a popular pilgrimage destination for chemists, mineralogists and history enthusiasts. A visit combines nature — the peaceful archipelago landscape — with a piece of scientific history of global significance.