Page 205

  205Beryllium 
By Robert A. Whitman1 
 The consumption of beryl decreased in 1972. Production of domestic ore declined,
and -imports were less than those of 1971. Contracts were awarded for beryllium
corn- 
ponents of the Poseidon missile system to be delivered in 1973 and 1974.
 1 Physical scientist, Division of Nonferrous Metals. 
Table 1.—Salient beryllium mineral statistics 
1968 
1969 
1970 
1971 
1972 P 
United States: 
Beryl, approximately 11% BeO: 
 Shipped from mines short tons~ Imports do~ Consumption do.~ 
Price, approximate, per unit BeO imported, cobbed beryl at port of exportation
Bertrandite ore: Utah, low-grade, shipped 
 from mines short tons - 
168 
3,822 
9,244 
 $34 
- - 
W 
6,422 
' 8,483 
 $37 
W 
W 
4,942 
' 9,496 
 $35 
W 
W 
4,026 
' 10,373 
$33 
W 
W 
3,345 
' 7,781 
$30 
W 
World production of beryl do - - - 
7,242 
8,869 
' 6,857 
5,844 
4,740 
P Preliminary. ' Revised. W Withheld to avoid disclosing individual company
confidential data. ' Includes some bertrandite ore that was calculated as
equivalent to beryl containing 11% BeO. 
 Legislation and Government Programs. 
—Government yearend stocks of beryl, be. ryllium-copper master alloy,
and beryllium metal are shown in -table 2. Government inventories of beryl
decreased 1,602 short tons during 1972 as a result of sales. 
 The Environmental Protection Agency 
held public hearings in New York City on January 10, 1972, and in Los Angeles
on February 15 and 16, 1972, to obta-in testimony concerning emission standards
for the three air pollutants, asbestos, beryllium, and mercury. Final emission
standards are due to be published in 1973. 
Table 2.—Government yearend stocks of beryllium materials 
(Shert tons) 
Material 
National 
stockpile 
Supplemental 
stockpile 
All stocks 
Beryl (11% BeO): 
Objective                                       
Excess                                              
Total                                             
Beryllium-copper master alloy: 
Objective                                            
Excess                                              
Total                                             
Beryllium metal: 
Objective                                            
Excess                                              
Total                                             
12,433 
3,841 
2,782 
59 
15,215 
3,900 
16,274 
2,841 
19,115 
1,075 
4,750 
1,562 
4,750 
2,637 
1,075 
6,312 
7,387 
- - 
150 
79 
150 
79 
229 
229 
 Source: Office of Emergency Preparedness. Statistical Supplement, Stockpile
Report to the Congress OEP—4, July—December 1972.