Gadolinium (Gd)

Atomic Number: 64 • Group: HREE

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157.250

Gadolinium

HREE

Primary Uses

MRI contrast agents, Neutron capture (Nuclear), Magnetostriction

Scarcity & Economic Profile

Crustal Abundance

5-6 ppm

Primary Economic Driver

Medical imaging (MRI)

Geological Scarcity

LowMediumHighExtremeTotal

Supply Risk

N/ALowMediumHighExtreme

Primary Mining Countries

China Myanmar Vietnam

Primary Processing Countries

China

Sources - Crustal Abundance

Rudnick, R. L., & Gao, S. (2003). Composition of the Continental Crust. Treatise on Geochemistry, 3, 1-64.
Taylor, S. R., & McLennan, S. M. (1985). The Continental Crust: Its Composition and Evolution. Blackwell Scientific Publications.
Wedepohl, K. H. (1995). The composition of the continental crust. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 59(7), 1217-1232.
U.S. Geological Survey. (2026). Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026. U.S. Department of the Interior.

Short Description

Gadolinium-based compounds are essential contrast agents in MRI medical imaging, enhancing image clarity for disease diagnosis. Gadolinium also has the highest thermal neutron capture cross-section of any element, making it valuable for nuclear reactor shielding and control rods.