(Samarskite, a mineral) Discovered in 1879 by Leqoc de Boisbaudran in the mineral samarskite, named after a Russian mine official, Colonel Samarski. Found with other rare earth elements in minerals including monazite and bastanite.
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silver luster, rare earth metal, fairly stable in air, it ignites in air at 150 C, 16 isotopes
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used for carbon arc lighting in the movie industry, magnetic material with high resistance to demagnetization, optical glasses, optical lasers, phosphors sensitive to infrared, absorber in nuclear reactors.