UNITED STATES MINERAL RESOURCES 



BERYLLIUM 



By Wallace R. Griffitts 



CONTENTS 



Abstract of conclusions 



Introduction 



Properties and uses of the metal 



Properties and uses of beryllium alloys 



Properties and uses of the oxide 



Beryl as an industrial mineral 



End uses of beryllium 



Secondary recovery 



Toxicity of beryllium and its compounds 



History of production and consumption 



Future consumption 



Extractive methods 



Geologic environment 



Geochemistry 



Minerals 



Types of beryllium deposits 



Pegmatitic deposits 



Hydrothermal deposits 



Hypothermal deposits 



Mesothermal deposits 



Epithermal deposits 



Regional distribution of beryllium deposits 



Resources 



Selected references 



FIGURES 



12. 



Graph showing beryl ore imported and consumed 

 by U.S. industry, 1936-71 



Map showing areas of the conterminous United 

 States in which beryllium deposits are most 

 likely to be found 



TABLES 



15. 

 16. 



18. 



End uses of beryllium in the United States, 1968 

 Sources of beryl ore used in the industry of the 



United States 



Characteristics of beryllium minerals known to 



form large deposits 



Estimated resources of beryllium 



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ABSTRACT OF CONCLUSIONS 



Beryllium metal is used in a variety of products in which 

 its low density and other physical properties are particularly 

 valuable. More than half the metal produced is used with 

 copper in strong, fatigue-resistant alloys. Beryllium oxide 

 and beryl are used in many ceramic and other products. The 

 total amount used is small; less than 1,000 tons of beryl- 

 lium was used in all forms in the year of highest consump- 

 tion. The annual consumption may increase to as much as 

 4,000 tons by the year 2000. 



About 95 percent of the beryllium ore used in the United 

 States has been imported, three-fourths of it coming from 

 Brazil, the Republic of South Africa, India, Argentina, and 

 Mozambique. Significant domestic production began in 1969 

 and probably will increase until it accounts for at least half 

 the ore consumed. 



The resources of beryllium in known domestic deposits are 

 estimated at 60,000 tons, and these can be increased by fur- 

 ther exploration to become sufficient to supply our needs for 

 many decades. 



INTRODUCTION 



The beryllium industry is both small and young 

 as compared with most base-, ferrous-, and light- 

 metal industries. Beryllium thus is one of many 

 minor commodities, one that has been rather highly 

 publicized because of glamorous actual and potential 

 uses in nuclear energy and manufacture of space 

 vehicles. Nonetheless, many important uses for 

 beryllium have developed during the 40 years since 

 production began. The industry is shifting from 

 complete dependence upon imported beryl concen- 

 trates derived from small pegmatitic deposits to 

 the mining of large domestic nonpegmatitic deposits. 

 Deposits containing 60,000 tons of metal — enough 

 to satisfy national needs for several decades — were 

 found in about 10 years. More deposits doubtless 

 can be found if markets develop sufficiently to 

 stimulate prospecting. 



PROPERTIES AND USES OF THE METAL 



Beryllium, vs^ith a specific gravity of 1.85, is one 

 of the lightest metals stable in air. Like aluminum, 



U.S. GEOL. SURVEY PROF. PAPER 820 



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