The migration, formation and growth of Cd islands and long whiskers were studied in single crystals of Cd 84 Yb 16 , Cd 51 Yb 14 , Cd 17 Ca 3 and polycrystals of Cd 85 Ni 15 and high purity Cd. It was found that Cd moves rapidly to the sample surface in quasicrystal Cd 84 Yb 16 , forming islands in less than two hours. Cd whiskers that have sub-micron diameters and lengths of several hundred microns to millimeters can grow in several days under high vacuum. Evidence was presented to demonstrate that the whiskers grow from the base instead of the tip. Striations on pure Cd islands' surfaces suggest that they were extruded from the matrix due to the internal compression stresses introduced by Yb or Ca oxides. While whiskers are easily observed in hex-CdYb, i-CdYb and CdCa single crystals, no Cd whisker formation or migration of any kind was present on the surfaces of Cd 85 Ni 15 and pure Cd samples, subjected to similar environmental conditions for even longer durations. This result suggests that oxidation of the reactive element is essential for the enhanced whisker growth kinetics observed. Since Cd islands and whiskers grow spontaneously in a matter of hours instead of months required for tin or zinc whiskers, CdYb alloys would be good candidates for detailed whisker formation and growth mechanisms studies whose results will be relevant to the long term stability of lead-free solder.