Thulium Unleashed: From Rare-Earth Roots to Everyday Tech

Dive into thulium, a little‑known rare earth with a surprisingly big tech résumé. We trace its 1879 discovery, the painstaking purification saga, and its magnetic “wardrobe” that changes with temperature. Explore how thulium enables efficient 2080 nm lasers, portable X‑ray sources via thulium‑170, and potential boosts to high‑temperature superconductors and ferrites. See its minerals home (monazite, xenotime, gadolinite), plus everyday touches like euro banknotes’ anti‑counterfeiting features. A tour of a metal that’s small in abundance but huge in impact.

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