This metal feels lonely in its assigned spot on the periodic table. It would rather be with its cousins down by the rare earths with which it's always associated in nature. For a collector, yttrium is considered a medium difficulty element to acquire. It is not expensive but it's not something you'd find at Home Depot either. Like many other rare earth metals, yttrium tends to come with a bizarre surface texture resembling dry lava beds. This metal tends to develop a dark patina over time in air but freshly cut pieces are very white. And speaking of cutting, yttrium send prodigious amounts of sparks when cutting!