Ultrafine　nanocrystalline　bulk　material　of　pure　rare-earth　metals　has　been　prepared　using　a　combination　of　inert　gas　condensation　and　spark　plasma　sintering　(see　figure).　Some　of　the　bulk　properties　such　as　the　microhardness　and　specific　heat　capacity　are　remarkably　improved　compared　to　the　conventional　polycrystalline　material.　This　new　preparation　technique　enables　the　preparation　and　study　of　a　variety　of　other　nanostructured　metal　materials.