Samarium is never found free in nature, but, like other rare
earth elements, is contained in many minerals, including monazite,
bastnasite and samarskite: monazite (in which it occurs up to an
extent of 2.8%) and bastnasite are also used as commercial sources.
Misch metal containing about 1% of samarium has long been used, but
it was not until recent years that relatively pure samarium has
been isolated through ion exchange processes, solvent extraction
techniques, and electrochemical deposition. The metal is often
prepared by electrolysis of a molten mixture of samarium chloride
with sodium chloride or calcium chloride. Samarium can also be
obtained by reducing its oxide with lanthanum.
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