High-density scintillation performance in suitable crystals
71LuHeavy rare earth
Rare-earth element 71
Lutetium
Its density and response to radiation support medical imaging, precision therapies and specialised catalysis.
Rare Earth MatrixWhy it is used
The properties behind lutetium applications.
Useful nuclear and catalytic behaviour
Clinical uses involve produced radioisotopes administered under specialist regulatory control.
Typical applications
Where lutetium is commonly used.
Scintillator crystals used in PET imaging
Specialised catalysts
Targeted therapies using produced lutetium-177
Applications refer to suitable rare-earth materials, compounds or produced isotopes—not raw mineral material. Product designs and formulations vary.
Connected technologies
What the element does inside a system.
Route to use
A head assay is several steps from an industrial material.
- 01Mineral-bearing material
Geology and assays establish occurrence and distribution.
- 02Recovery and separation
Testwork must establish what can be mobilised, recovered and purified.
- 03Application-grade material
Oxides, metals, alloys or compounds must meet a controlled specification.
- 04Component or system
Manufacturers design the material into a qualified product.
Project reporting context
Part of the 17-element educational matrix.
Rare Earth Matrix
This profile explains the properties and common uses of lutetium. It does not state that Magnes will recover, separate or sell the element from Minas Americas.
See the reporting definitions →Sources
Where the element and application information comes from.
Applications are representative rather than exhaustive. They describe industry uses of rare-earth materials, compounds or produced isotopes; they do not describe a product currently made by Magnes or establish that an element will be commercially recovered from Minas Americas.
- U.S. Geological Survey · Selected applications by element
- USGS · 2026 Rare Earths Mineral Commodity Summary
- USGS · 2026 Heavy Rare Earths summary · Scandium · Yttrium
- U.S. Department of Energy · Critical materials and applications
- International Energy Agency · Magnet rare earths and energy technologies
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory · Promethium context
- U.S. FDA · MRI and regulated contrast context · Lutetium-177 therapy context
- Magnes · Technical disclosure and claims boundary