7. Exploration and mining

Mineral prospecting for beryllium minerals can be based on the properties of the host rocks, such as the magnetic properties of helvite skarns. In general, however, beryllometry is used.

The sensitivity of beryllometers is less than 0.01% BeO, so they are used at all stages of prospecting, and provide a basis for reserve calculations. In geochemical prospecting, soil content is determined colorimetrically within a range of 1 to 600 ppm Be.

Natural beryl concentrations are so variable that industrial production can only be achieved by small-scale, hand-sorted operations. Mass slaughter...