GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS 

Lucerne, 04. February 2025

1. Scope and Provider

• 1.1 These General Terms and Conditions (hereinafter referred to as “GTC”) govern the contractual relationship between the Institut für Seltene Erden und Metalle AG (Institute for Rare Earths and Metals AG), alternatively ISE AG (hereinafter also referred to as the “Provider” or “Operator”), and you (hereinafter referred to as the “Customer” or “User”), in the version valid at the time the contract is concluded.
• 1.2 Any deviating terms and conditions of the Customer are hereby expressly rejected. Please read these Terms carefully before using any free or paid service offered by ISE AG.
• 1.3 As the Institut für Seltene Erden und Metalle AG, we provide the following services:
• 1.3.1 Internet-based services: Free newsletter and paid information services related to prices of rare earth elements and metals.
• 1.3.2 Other services: Analysis of metals and rare earth elements, as well as valuations, consulting for the brokerage of purchases and sales, and storage of rare earth elements and metals. These services are subject to our General Terms and Conditions, which may be individually amended or supplemented in writing. Where the initiation of contact for “Other Services” occurs via our website, these GTC shall apply unless otherwise expressly agreed.

• 2.1 Contracts on this platform may be concluded exclusively in German or English.
• 2.2 The Customer must be at least 18 years of age.
• 2.3 Access to the services offered by the Institut für Seltene Erden und Metalle AG requires registration and acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.
• 2.4 By registering, the Customer accepts these Terms and Conditions. Upon registration, a contractual relationship is established between the Institut für Seltene Erden und Metalle AG and the registered Customer, governed by the provisions of these Terms.
• 2.5 The presentation of services on the website does not constitute a legally binding offer. It merely serves as an invitation to the Customer to submit an offer.
• 2.6 By ordering a paid service, the registered Customer enters into an additional contractual relationship with the Institut für Seltene Erden und Metalle AG, separate from the registration. Before concluding this contract, the Customer will be informed about the specific paid service and the applicable payment conditions. The contract is concluded when the Customer confirms the order and payment obligation by clicking the button “Order with obligation to pay”. Contracts for “Other Services” are concluded individually, and these Terms apply unless otherwise agreed in writing.
• 2.7 The Customer agrees to receive invoices electronically. Electronic invoices are provided via e-mail. We will inform Customers for each service whether electronic invoicing is available. Further details can be found on our website.
• 2.2.1 Description of Services The Institut für Seltene Erden und Metalle AG offers the following services:
  
  Users may register free of charge and then choose which paid or partially free information services they wish to use.
  
  

  • Average metal prices over the last 6 months – Free of charge
  • 360-day package for EUR 900.00 – All metal prices
  • 360-day package for EUR 900.00 – All metal product prices
  • 360-day package for EUR 1,600.00 – All-In-One
  • VIP – Price upon request (individual)

  
  All prices are net prices and subject to VAT where applicable.
• 2.2.2 Registration
  
  (1) Registration is required to use the services offered by the Institut für Seltene Erden und Metalle AG.
  
  (2) If the user wishes to access a paid service, they will be explicitly informed beforehand about the costs, payment method, and scope of service.
  
  (3) The Provider reserves the right to offer different pricing models and service packages depending on the booking period, user group, or subscription duration.
• 2.2.3 Payment Terms
  
  (1) Any applicable fee must be paid in advance, without deduction, to the Institut für Seltene Erden und Metalle AG at the time of due date.
  
  (2) By registering, providing payment information, and using the paid service, the user authorizes the Provider to collect the corresponding amount or declares their consent to payment.
  
  (3) Paid subscriptions are automatically renewed for the booked period unless canceled via e-mail or letter at least 30 days prior to expiration.
  
  (4) The subscription fee is charged upon expiration of the withdrawal period (14 days after ordering) and, if not canceled, on each renewal date (30 days / 6 months / 12 months). If the user wishes to access the paid service immediately, they may waive the right of withdrawal by checking the “Waive withdrawal” box, which enables immediate access upon payment.
  
  (5) The Provider may exclude certain payment methods in individual cases.
  
  (6) If the Customer selects an online payment method, they authorize the Provider to collect the amount due at the time of order.
  
  (7) If payment by credit card is offered and chosen, the Customer expressly authorizes the Provider to collect the amount due.
  
  (8) Payments may be made using the following methods:
  

  • Credit card
  • Instant transfer (Sofortüberweisung)
  • PayPal
• 2.2.4 Registration and Termination
  
  (1) Users may deregister at any time without stating a reason, either in writing by post or e-mail. They may also deactivate their account independently via their profile settings. The contractual relationship thereby ends. However, the user remains obligated to pay the full contractual fee and is not entitled to a proportional refund for any unused period.
  
  (2) Users subscribed to a paid service may cancel up to 30 days before the renewal date. If this deadline is missed, the service automatically renews for the booked period, and the cancellation takes effect only at the end of the following term. Cancellations may be submitted by e-mail or post and will be confirmed in writing. To ensure correct assignment, cancellations should include the Customer’s full name, registered e-mail address, and postal address.
  
  (3) The Institut für Seltene Erden und Metalle AG may terminate the contract at its sole discretion, with or without prior notice, and without providing reasons. It may also remove user profiles or content from the website. If registration or content is terminated or removed, the Institute has no obligation to inform the user of the reason. Any unused prepaid period will be refunded on a pro-rata basis.
  
  (4) Upon termination of any individual use of the Institute’s services, the Institut für Seltene Erden und Metalle AG, reserves the right to inform other registered users who may have been in contact with the user. Such a decision does not imply any statement about the user’s character, reputation, personal traits, or lifestyle.
  
  (5) Users are required not to provide any false or fraudulent information in their profile or elsewhere on the platform. Such behavior may result in civil legal action and immediate termination of the contract by the Provider.
  
  (6) If access is blocked or the contract terminated due to a breach of duty attributable to the user, the user must compensate the Provider for the agreed fee, less saved expenses. Saved expenses are assumed to amount to 10% of the fee, unless either party proves that the actual amount is higher or lower.
  
  (7) Upon termination of the contractual relationship, all user data will be deleted by the Institut für Seltene Erden und Metalle AG.
• 2.2.5 Limitation of Liability
  
  (1) The Institut für Seltene Erden und Metalle AG assumes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of registration or profile information provided by users, nor for user-generated content.
  
  (2) Contracts concerning the services offered or requested are concluded solely between the respective users. The Institut für Seltene Erden und Metalle AG shall not be liable to third parties in any way arising out of such relationships. All matters concerning the relationship between users, including services received or payments owed, must be settled directly between them. The Institut für Seltene Erden und Metalle AG explicitly disclaims all liability of any kind, including direct or indirect damages, whether known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, arising in connection with such interactions.
  
  (3) For other damages not involving the breach of cardinal obligations (i.e. essential contractual duties whose fulfillment enables the proper performance of the contract and upon which the Customer may regularly rely), ISE AG shall only be liable for willful misconduct or gross negligence by ISE AG, its legal representatives, or agents.
  
  (3.1.) Price information for rare earths and metals is compiled by the Provider to the best of its knowledge and belief. The Customer acknowledges that there are no official market or exchange prices for these commodities and that the Provider relies on sources deemed reliable. The Provider assumes no liability for the accuracy of such price information.
  
  (3.2.) aluations of rare earths and metals commissioned by Customers are, unless otherwise agreed in writing, based on the prices of minimal sale quantities, regardless of the amount of material appraised.
  
  (4) Claims for damages are limited to foreseeable, typical contractual damages, excluding indirect or consequential losses. In the event of default, liability is limited to 5% of the order value.
  
  (5) VTypical contractual claims for damages expire after one year, beginning at the end of the year in which the claim arose and the creditor became aware (or should have become aware without gross negligence) of the circumstances giving rise to the claim and the identity of the debtor.
  
  (6) The Provider reserves the right to review user-generated texts and uploaded files for legal compliance and to delete them, in whole or in part, if necessary.

• 3.1 The customer shall only be entitled to set-off if the customer’s counterclaim has been legally established or acknowledged by the provider.
• 3.2 The customer may exercise a right of retention only insofar as the counterclaim is based on the same contractual relationship.

4. Right of Withdrawal

• 4.1 If the purchaser is a consumer, they have a right of withdrawal in accordance with the following provisions:
• 4.2 Right of Withdrawal
  You have the right to withdraw from this contract within fourteen (14) days without giving any reason.
  The withdrawal period for services is fourteen (14) days from the day the contract is concluded.
  
  To exercise your right of withdrawal, you must inform us at:
  
  ISE Institut für seltene Erden und Metalle AG
  Furrengasse 21
  6004 Luzern 
  Schweiz
  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  
  by means of a clear statement (e.g. a letter sent by post or an email) of your decision to withdraw from this contract. If you use this option, we will immediately (for example, by email) send you a confirmation of receipt of such a withdrawal.
  
  To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient that you send the communication concerning the exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
• 4.3 Consequences of Withdrawal
  If you withdraw from this contract, we shall reimburse you for all payments we have received from you without undue delay and no later than fourteen (14) days from the day on which we receive notification of your withdrawal from this contract. We will use the same means of payment as you used for the original transaction, unless expressly agreed otherwise; in no event will you be charged any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
  The right of withdrawal expires upon your first login.
• 4.4 Exceptions to the Right of Withdrawal
  The right of withdrawal does not exist or expires for the following contracts: for services, if ISE Institut für Seltene Erden und Metalle AG has fully performed the service and you have, prior to placing your order, acknowledged and expressly agreed that performance of the service may begin before the withdrawal period expires and that you lose your right of withdrawal once the contract has been fully performed.

5. Data Protection

• 5.1 If personal data (e.g. name, address, email address) is collected, we undertake to obtain your prior consent. We further commit not to disclose any data to third parties unless you have given your explicit consent beforehand.
• 5.2 We would like to point out that data transmission over the internet (e.g. via email) may be subject to security vulnerabilities. Therefore, complete and uninterrupted protection of data from access by third parties cannot be fully guaranteed. Liability on our part in this regard is excluded.
• 5.3 Third parties are not permitted to use contact details for commercial purposes unless the provider has previously granted written consent to the persons concerned.
• 5.4 You have the right at any time to obtain full and free information from the Institut für Seltene Erden und Metalle AG regarding the personal data stored about you.
• 5.5 Furthermore, you have the right to request the correction, deletion, or restriction of the processing of your data.
• 5.6 Further details regarding data protection can be found in our separate Privacy Policy.

6. Cookies

• 6.1 To display our product offerings, we may use cookies. Cookies are small text files that are stored locally in the cache of the website visitor’s internet browser.
• 6.2 Many websites and servers use cookies. Numerous cookies contain what is known as a cookie ID. A cookie ID is a unique identifier of the cookie. It consists of a sequence of characters through which websites and servers can be assigned to the specific internet browser in which the cookie has been stored. This enables the visited websites and servers to distinguish the individual browser of the data subject from other internet browsers that contain different cookies. A specific internet browser can thus be recognized and identified by its unique cookie ID.
• 6.3 By using cookies, we can provide users of this website with more user-friendly services that would not be possible without setting cookies.
• 6.4 Please note that some of these cookies are transferred from our server to your computer system, usually in the form of so-called session cookies. Session cookies are automatically deleted from your hard drive at the end of your browser session. Other cookies remain on your computer system and enable us to recognize your computer system when you visit us again (so-called persistent cookies).
• 6.5 You may object to the storage of cookies. For this purpose, a cookie banner is available on our website, allowing you to accept or decline cookies.
• 6.6 Of course, you can also configure your browser settings so that no cookies are stored on your hard drive, or so that cookies already stored are deleted. Instructions on how to prevent or delete cookies can be found in the help function of your browser or the documentation provided by your browser software manufacturer.

7. Place of Jurisdiction and Applicable Law

• 7.1 In the event of any differences of opinion or disputes arising from this contract, Swiss law shall apply exclusively, to the exclusion of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG).
• 7.2 The exclusive place of jurisdiction for all orders placed by merchants, legal entities under public law, or special funds under public law shall be the registered office of the provider.

8. Final Provisions

• 8.1 The contractual language is German or English. Where these Terms and Conditions are also available in English, both versions shall be deemed binding.
• 8.2 We do not offer products or services for purchase by minors. Our products intended for children may only be purchased by adults. If you are under the age of 18, you may use the services of Institut für Seltene Erden und Metalle AG only with the involvement of a parent or legal guardian.
• 8.3 If you breach these Terms and we do not take immediate action, we shall nevertheless remain entitled to exercise our rights on any other occasion in which you violate these Terms.
• 8.4 We reserve the right to make changes to our website, policies, and terms and conditions, including these Terms and Conditions, at any time. The version of the Terms and Conditions that applies to your order is the version in effect at the time you place the order, unless a change to these Terms is required by law or governmental order (in which case the new version shall also apply to previous orders). If any provision of these Terms is or becomes invalid, void, or unenforceable for any reason, such provision shall be deemed severable and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions.
• 8.5 The invalidity of any individual provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of the contract. In such case, the invalid provision shall be replaced by a legally permissible provision that most closely reflects the intent and purpose of the invalid provision.

Gold

• History

  Gold has accompanied humanity for millennia as a symbol of power, wealth, and beauty. Its history is closely linked with culture, economy, and technology.

  The oldest known gold artifacts come from the Varna culture around 4500 BCE in present-day Bulgaria.
  In Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt, gold played an important role from around 3000 BCE. The main sources for extraction were alluvial gold deposits in or along rivers. It was used for jewelry and cult objects.

  In antiquity, King Croesus of Lydia minted the first gold coins around 600 BCE. The Roman Empire used gold coins for trade and paying soldiers.

  At the same time, the Inca and Maya in South America crafted gold into elaborate jewelry.

  In medieval Europe, gold became a symbol of wealth and power for rulers and the church. In 309 CE, Emperor Constantine the Great introduced the Solidus coin in Byzantium. This stable gold currency lasted for centuries.

  In the modern era, the lust for gold among European maritime powers such as Spain, Portugal, England, and Italy led to wars and conquests.

  The discovery of America and the gold riches of indigenous peoples in Central and South America attracted European — especially Spanish — conquerors who brought gold back to Europe. Silver and gold mines like those in Potosí (Bolivia) and Zacatecas (Mexico) made Spain for a time the richest power in Europe.

  In the 19th century, gold deposits on various continents repeatedly attracted large numbers of adventurers. Examples include the California Gold Rush of 1849 and the Klondike Gold Rush in Alaska in 1897. Australia and South Africa also experienced gold rushes.

  Starting in 1871, many countries adopted the gold standard by linking their currencies to gold. To stabilize the global economy during World War II, the Bretton Woods Agreement of 1944 also tied the US dollar to gold. The US dollar became the leading currency in a system of fixed exchange rates designed to secure international payments. The gold standard was abandoned again in the early 1970s.

  Today, gold serves as a safe haven investment, central bank reserve, and industrial raw material. The value of gold has risen from 35 US dollars per ounce in 1971 to over 3,000 US dollars per ounce (2025).

• Application

  Almost half of the gold is used by the jewelry industry. Demand for gold in this sector is especially strong in Asia and the Middle East and is driven by cultural factors. In India, for example, gold plays a significant role in weddings.

  About 40 percent of gold is acquired by central banks and other institutions as reserves, and also purchased by private investors in the form of bars or coins. The largest industrial use of gold is in the electrical and electronics industry, but it accounts for only a small share of about six percent.

• Occurence, Mining and Extraction

  Gold mostly occurs in nature in its native (elemental) form and, except for combinations with tellurium, selenium, and bismuth, is chemically unbound. It is widely distributed in low concentrations in all magmatic rocks. The gold content in the continental Earth’s crust is approximately 4 grams per 1000 tons of rock.

  Gold frequently occurs alongside copper and lead deposits. Although the quantities of gold are often extremely small, it can easily be recovered as a byproduct during the refining of these base metals.

  Large masses of gold-bearing rock rich enough to be classified as ores are unusual. There are two known types of deposits with significant gold quantities: hydrothermal veins, in which gold is associated with quartz and pyrite (fool’s gold), and placer deposits formed by the weathering of gold-bearing rocks.

  Gold-rich veins form when gold, together with other minerals, is transported to the surface from deep underground in an aqueous solution and later precipitates. In rocks, gold usually occurs as invisible, scattered grains, less commonly as visible flakes, and even more rarely as masses or veins. In California, crystals with diameters of about 2,5 cm or more have been found. In Australia, masses of up to 90 kg of gold have been discovered.

  China is the largest gold-producing country, followed by Russia and Australia. Switzerland is the global center for gold trading and dominates gold refining. Other important refining centers include India and Dubai.

  The largest single gold mine in the world is the Nevada Gold Mine in the USA. The mine is operated as a joint venture between Barrick Gold and Newmont. In 2024, the mine produced 1,65 million troy ounces of gold, which corresponds to approximately 51 tons.

  The Muruntau Gold Mine in Uzbekistan, owned by the state enterprise Navoi Mining and Metallurgy Combinat, has been mining gold since 1958. Also among the top three is the Grasberg Mine in Indonesia, which produces copper and gold. It is one of the largest mining complexes in the world, located in the highlands of the Sudirman Mountains in the Indonesian province of Papua. The state-owned company Inalum holds a majority 51 percent stake, while the US mining company Freeport McMoRan owns the remainder.

  After China, India is the world’s largest consumer of gold.

  Approximately 3.300 tons of gold are produced annually.

• Substitution

  Base metals plated with gold alloys are frequently used to reduce the amount of gold in electronic products as well as in the jewelry industry. Many of these products are continuously redesigned to maintain high performance standards while using less gold.

  In general, gold can be replaced by palladium, platinum, and silver.

Y • Atomic Number 39

• Occurence

  The mineral xenotime is the most important source for yttrium extraction.

  Australia dominates global xenotime production. The country possesses the largest and most economically viable heavy mineral sand deposits in the world.

• Extraction

  The metal is produced by electrolysis and metallothermic reduction of its halides using alkali or alkaline earth metals. It exists in four allotropes (structural forms). The α-phase is face-centered cubic with a lattice parameter of a = 4,85 Å at 77 K (-196 °C or -321 °F). The β-phase forms just below room temperature and is hexagonal close-packed with a = 3.6810 Å and c = 11.857 Å. The γ-phase is the room temperature form and is face-centered cubic with a = 5.1610 Å at 24 °C (75 °F). The δ-phase is body-centered cubic with a = 4,12 Å at 757 °C (1.395 °F).

  After an elaborate separation of cerium impurities, the oxide is converted to cerium fluoride using hydrofluoric acid. It is then reduced with calcium, forming calcium fluoride in the process. The removal of residual calcium and impurities is achieved through an additional vacuum remelting step.

  

• Application

  The most important application of yttrium is as a phosphor in displays. Europium-doped yttrium oxysulfide (Y₂O₂S:Eu³⁺) produces the perfect, intense red color in the cathode ray tubes (CRTs) of old color televisions and computer monitors. In modern white LEDs, a blue LED is often combined with a yttrium-aluminum garnet (YAG) phosphor that emits yellow light. The combination of blue and yellow light appears white to the human eye.

  Yttrium is also used as a crystal in high-performance lasers for medical applications, material processing (welding, engraving), metrology, and defense.

  Yttrium oxide is additionally used in superalloys to improve high-temperature and corrosion resistance.

Yb • Atomic Number 70

• Occurence

  The main sources for ytterbium extraction are bastnäsite and monazite deposits. These are primarily mined in China, with smaller-scale mining also occurring in the USA, Australia, and Southeast Asia.

  The demand for ytterbium is growing due to its use in a variety of technologies.

  Ytterbium production is almost exclusively concentrated in China.

• Extraction

  Ytterbium is obtained through solvent extraction. For this process, the rare earth oxide (REO) mixture is dissolved in hydrochloric acid, and the solution is pumped through a series of mixer-settler units. At each stage, an organic solvent is added that selectively binds a specific rare earth element.

  Due to slight differences in the acidity of the ions, the various elements move through the cascade at different rates.

  Ytterbium accumulates in the later stages of the extraction cascade.

  The result of this step is highly pure ytterbium(III) oxide (Yb₂O₃).

  To produce metallic ytterbium, the oxide is usually reduced metallothermically using lanthanum or cerium.

  The metal obtained by reduction is often not pure enough for high-tech applications. The most important purification method is in-situ distillation.

  

• Application

  One of the key drivers for ytterbium demand is the expansion of fiber optic networks and 5G. Ytterbium plays a crucial role in high-performance semiconductors and ytterbium-doped fiber amplifiers (YDFAs). Ytterbium-based amplifiers, an essential component in fiber lasers, enable efficient high-speed data transmission in communication technologies.

  Another important application of ytterbium is in medical technologies. Ytterbium isotopes are used in medical imaging, radiation therapy, and surgical lasers.

  Ytterbium demand could further increase in the future due to innovations in emerging fields such as quantum computing and ultra-precise atomic clocks.

  General Information
  Name, Symbol, Atomic Number	Ytterbium, Yb, 70
  Series	Lanthanoid
  Groupe, Periode, Block	La, 6, f
  Appearance	silvery-white
  CAS-Number	7440-64-4
  Abundance in Earth's crust	2.5ppm
  Atomic Properties
  Atomic Mass	173.04 u
  Atomic Radius	175 pm
  Covalent Radius	187 pm
  Electron Configuration	[Xe] 4f¹⁴ 6s²
  1. Ionization Energy	603.4 kJ/mol
  2. Ionization Energy	1174.8 kJ/mol
  3. Ionization Energy	2417 kJ/mol
  4. Ionization Energy	-
  Physical Properties
  State of Matter	solid
  Crystal Structure	Cubic face-centered
  Density	6.973 g/cm³ (at 25 °C)
  Magnetism	Paramagnetic (χm = 3.4 * 10⁻⁵)
  Melting Point	1097 K (824 °C)
  Boiling Point	1469 K (1196 °C)
  Molar Volume	24.84 * 10⁻⁶ m³/mol
  Heat of Vaporization	160 kJ/mol
  Heat of Fusion	7.7 kJ/mol
  Electrical Conductivity	4.0 * 10⁶ A/(V·m)
  Thermal Conductivity	39 W/(m*K)