Although rubidium is not mined in the United States, the metal and its principal compounds are produced by at least one domestic company, Cabot Corporation, from ores mined at its Bernic Lake deposit in Manitoba, Canada.

How can rubidium be extracted?

Grinding the materials in fine particle size, chemical roasting at high temperature and water or acid leaching are the main processes to extraction of rubidium. The roasting agent used to reduce melting point, enhance fluidity of the molten mixture and convert rubidium in minerals to soluble form.

Can rubidium be broken down?

When rubidium-87 breaks down in the rock, it changes into a new isotope, strontium -87. Any rock that contains rubidium-87 also contains some strontium-87.