Samarium purification follows the removal of the europium. Trifluorides of plutonium, samarium (at high temperature), and lanthanum adopt the LaF structure. Samarium Cobalt Noiseless Jazz Bass pickups, designed by pickup designer Bill Lawrence. Alkyl halides are reduced by samarium iodide to the corresponding alkanes. This was later determined by other scientists to yield samarium and gadolinium. They are prepared by reacting samarium trichloride with NaCH in tetrahydrofuran. Samarium (and its sesquioxide) are paramagnetic at room temperature. In general, polar solvents increase the reducing properties of samarium iodide. The most stable oxide of samarium is the sesquioxide SmO. Another important application of samarium and its compounds is as catalyst and chemical reagent. As many other samarium compounds, it exists in several crystalline phases. This solution gave x-ray spectra attributed to samarium and element 61. Domination of samarium in minerals is unique. Freshly prepared samarium has a silvery luster. Minerals with essential (dominant) samarium include monazite-(Sm) and florencite-(Sm).