Element 67 · Lanthanide (Rare Earth)
Holmium
Holmium has the highest magnetic moment of any element — used in specialist magnetic and laser applications.
Element Facts
SYMBOL
Ho
ATOMIC NO.
67
ATOMIC WEIGHT
164.93
CATEGORY
Lanthanide (Rare Earth)
PERIOD
Period 6
GROUP
Group 3
Origins
Holmium was discovered in 1878–1879, with independent claims by Per Teodor Cleve (who named it after Holmia, the Latin name for Stockholm) and Marc Delafontaine and Louis Soret (who called it “element X”). Isolated from the same Scandinavian rare earth mineral deposits that yielded many lanthanides. Holmium possesses the highest magnetic moment of any naturally occurring element, a property that was of theoretical interest for much of the 20th century.
Key Properties
Holmium is element 67, named after Stockholm (Holmia in Latin), where it was discovered in 1878. It has the highest magnetic moment of any naturally occurring element.
Modern Applications
Holmium-doped YAG lasers (Ho:YAG) for medical surgery, particularly for kidney stone fragmentation and benign prostatic hyperplasia treatment. Holmium magnetic flux concentrators in research magnets. Some nuclear control rod applications.
At the Yard
Why QuickStop Metals doesn’t buy Holmium:
Production volumes are very low and applications are entirely specialist. There is no general scrap market.
Market Value
Holmium oxide trades at approximately £10–50/kg. Not a standard scrap material. Primarily sourced from Chinese rare earth refining.