Ytterby

Ytterby is a village in the Stockholm archipelago, located on the island of Resarö in Vaxholm Municipality, Stockholm County, Sweden. It lies northeast of central Stockholm and is part of the municipality’s outer coastal landscape. The area is best known for the Ytterby mine, a historic quarry that produced minerals used in early mineralogy and chemistry.

The Ytterby mine yielded gadolinite, among other minerals, and became famous for giving rise to several elements later named after the locality. Yttrium was identified by Johan Gadolin in 1789 in a sample from Ytterby. In 1843 Carl Gustaf Mosander separated two elements from yttria: erbia (erbium) and terbia (terbium). A later discovery led to ytterbium, named after Ytterby and recognized in the early 20th century.

The association with Ytterby has made the village a notable point in the history of chemistry and mineralogy, illustrating the early exploration of rare earth elements and the practice of naming elements after places. The mine and its surroundings are a part of Sweden’s geological heritage, contributing to local education and research.

Today the mine is no longer in operation, but the site remains of historical and geological interest. It is visited for its mineral specimens and as a cultural landmark within the Vaxholm area, reflecting the long-standing links between Swedish mining, science, and the Stockholm archipelago landscape.