Beryllium is a group 2 element and is named after the element beryl from which it is derived. Beryllium is identified by the abbreviation Be and has an atomic number of 4. Beryllium is derived from the element beryl which for many years was considered an element similar to but separate from emeralds (although later discovered to be the same).
Beryllium is relatively clear although the source, beryl, can come in numerous different colors including green (emeralds) and aqua (aquamarine). Beryllium is also considered the second lightest of all metals. It is hard and brittle which allows it to be processed easily and combined with other metals.
Beryllium in History:
Prior to any major developments in beryllium refining, it was known all the way back to ancient Egyptian. It was found along with emeralds but taken as a completely different element and discarded completely.
Beryllium was first discovered as an unknown element that was common to beryl. Although people had been mining emeralds for hundreds of years, it was not until 1798 when Abbe Hauy discovered that emeralds and beryl were the same element. Later in 1798, a French chemist by the name of Louis-Nicholas Vauquelin discovered an unknown element that was present in beryl. Chemists were able to isolate beryllium in 1828 by using a chemical process to extract it from beryl.
The demand for beryllium increased during World War II as it was needed to produce copper alloys that were used for ammunition and other military equipment. The use of beryllium for military purposes throughout the years has caused it to remain in demand even until today.
Current Sources of Beryllium:
Beryllium is an element that is not found by itself. It must be chemically extracted from the minerals beryl and bertrandite by using a chemical process involving reducing beryllium chloride with potassium in a platinum crucible. It can also be obtained through an electrolysis process with a mixture of beryllium chloride and sodium chloride.
Beryl is found in many different regions of the world today. It is most commonly found among granite with larger deposits being found in the Ural Mountains and Colombia. It is often most commonly fond with tin and tungsten. Some of the largest deposits of beryl have been found in the northeast region of the United States. The United States is also the #1 exporter of beryllium to foreign nations.
How Beryllium is Being Used Today:
Today there are numerous methods to extract beryllium from beryl. Beryllium is most commonly used as a hardening agent for other metals. Beryllium is combined with nickel to make welding rods and tools that do not create sparks (to use around flammable materials). Beryllium is also combined with cooper to make wear resistant material that is used in devices such as gyroscopes.
Beryllium is also combined with other elements to make things that we commonly use today such as glass for automobile windshields, disk brakes for airplanes, and structural components for United States military aircraft (including exterior components of the Space Shuttle).
Beryllium is also widely used in the nuclear industry. More common uses involve using it as a source for neutrons in laboratory experiments. Extreme uses include using it as an outer layer for nuclear weapons.
As it is relatively clear, it is also used to make windows for x-ray tubes. The elements in beryllium help resist the particles of radiation that are given off during x-rays which makes it the prefect window for taking x-rays.
Economic Value of Beryllium:
Beryllium is relatively inexpensive compared to other elements and currently ranges from $380 to $420 per pound. The majority of beryllium is produced in the United States with Canada and Russia also being leading suppliers. Beryllium is exported to countries such as Japan, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
The price of beryllium used to be stable from 1960 through 1980 ranging from $50 to $100 per pound. However, inflation as well as the cost to maintain pollution standards for mining caused the price of beryllium to soar. The cost of beryllium steadily rose until 1991 when the price, associated with the collapse of the Soviet Union, again took a dramatic swing upward.
How to Invest in Beryllium:
There are two ways that you can invest in Beryllium. These are mainly by investing in companies that have mining operations for beryl and by investing in companies that refine beryl into beryllium. The majority of beryllium is refined in the United States, Canada, and Russia. There are only a few companies in those areas that mine beryl to make beryllium and as such there are not many companies out there to invest in.
A company that is comprised mainly of the mining of beryl is Ultra Lithium Inc. They mainly explore and develop mineral properties in Canada for both lithium and beryl. The main property that they develop for beryl is near the Berland River in west central Alberta, Canada.
One company that not only consumes both the mining and refining aspects of beryllium, but also the alloy aspect of beryllium is IBC Advanced Alloys. They own properties in both Colorado and Utah in the United States. In addition to mining beryl from their properties, they have refining facilities to refine beryllium from beryl and also produce compounds such as beryllium copper (which makes up 75% of the demand for beryllium).
Future Demand for Beryllium:
Currently, stockpiles of beryllium are sufficient to meet world demand which is expected to grow at approximately 2% per year. There will continue to be demand for beryllium as it is used in so many different compounds.
Copper alloys are high in demand as they are high strength and high conductivity. The demand for copper alloy is increasing and so will the need for the beryllium to make this alloy. There is also a high demand for beryllium as the alloys and compounds are used in military aircraft and space exploration components. As there will never be a shortage of demand to build military aircraft, the need for beryllium should continue to stay in demand.
A new advancement in beryllium alloys will cause it to continue to be in demand for years to come. In 1996, a new form of beryllium alloy known as Beralcast was released. It is an alloy that is comprised of beryllium and aluminum and replaces higher prices aluminum, magnesium, titanium, and other metals. Beralcast alloys are just starting to gain popularity in markets where the need for strong metals at a cheap price are in demand.
How to Locate Mining Stock to Invest in Beryllium:
The following list of companies and the stock exchanges they are traded on is the beginning of entering the world of rare element investments. This list has been narrowed down to companies that mine rare earth elements, including beryllium, though they may also mine other metals as well. While some companies only hold mining rights in their native country, others have holdings in foreign countries that have rare earth resources.
BE Resources Inc. (BER: TSX.V, BSRSF: Pinks)
Gitennes Exploration Inc (GIT: TSX.V, GILXF: Pinks)
Linear Metals Corp (LRM: TSX.V, LMTCF: Pinks)
Nemaska Exploration Inc (NMX: TSX.V, NMKEF: Pinks)
Stans Energy Corp (HRE: TSX.V, HREEF: Pinks)
To locate more potential investments visit The Mining Almanac.com. Choose the filters you want to use, and you will be able to locate multiple publicly traded companies, along with finical data to help guide your investment decisions.
Beryllium Quick Facts:
- Beryllium is never found in free form and must be extracted from beryl.
- Beryllium was once named glucinum (meaning sweet) as it has a sweet taste. However, beryllium should never be tasted as the compounds of beryllium that give it the sweet taste can be poisonous and deadly.
- Beryl and emeralds used to be considered different elements but were later found to be the same element, just a different form.
- Beryllium is linked to Chronic Beryllium Disease which is an allergic reaction to beryllium. It can cause pulmonary hypertension, fatigue, and sometimes complete respiratory failure.
Chemical Compounds:
Beryllium is used to make up many different compounds including the following:
beryllide, beryllium azide, beryllium borohydride, beryllium bromide, beryllium carbide, beryllium carbonate, beryllium chloride, beryllium copper, beryllium fluoride, beryllium hydride, beryllium hydroxide, beryllium iodide, beryllium monohydride, beryllium nitrate, beryllium nitride, beryllium oxide, beryllium sulfate, beryllium sulfite, beryllium telluride, FLiBe
- Beryllium copper – Used to produce tools that are non-magnetic and do not create sparks. An advantage is that these tools can be used in areas that could contain flammable gasses and you would not want to create a spark.
- Beryllium oxide – Also known as beryllia, is used in ceramics and semiconductor parts for radios and other electronics.
