Rubidium
About Rubidium
Rubidium is a soft, highly reactive alkali metal used primarily in specialized electronic and research applications. Rubidium atomic frequency standards are used as secondary time references in telecommunications networks and GPS systems. Production is extremely limited, as rubidium is typically recovered as a byproduct of cesium or lithium mining, making it one of the least produced metals globally.
Primary Uses
Top Producing Countries
Quick Facts
- Symbol
- Rb
- Atomic Number
- 37
- Category
- Specialty Metal
- Criticality Level
- Medium
- Supply Risk
- Medium
- Top Producer
- Canada
- USGS Critical List
- Listed
- EU CRM List
- Listed
Explore Rubidium In Depth
Dive into detailed analysis across 11 key topics covering every aspect of the Rubidium value chain.
Uses & Applications
Discover the primary industrial, technological, and commercial applications of Rubidium across key sectors.
Supply Chain
Trace the Rubidium supply chain from mine to market, including key intermediaries, processing hubs, and trade flows.
Mining & Processing
Learn how Rubidium is extracted, concentrated, and processed into usable forms for downstream industries.
Refining & Grade Specs
Explore the refining methods, purity grades, and technical specifications that define Rubidium products.
Recycling
Assess the recycling potential, current recovery rates, and circular economy opportunities for Rubidium.
Substitutes
Evaluate possible substitutes and alternative materials that could reduce dependence on Rubidium.
Investing
Understand the investment landscape for Rubidium, including equities, ETFs, futures, and direct exposure strategies.
Price
Analyze Rubidium pricing mechanisms, historical trends, benchmarks, and the factors that drive market volatility.
Companies
Identify the major miners, processors, and technology companies involved in the Rubidium value chain.
Projects
Review the significant mining and processing projects shaping the future supply of Rubidium worldwide.
Risks
Examine the supply risks, geopolitical vulnerabilities, and strategic concerns associated with Rubidium.
Return to the full Mineral Library to explore other critical and strategic minerals.