BERYLLIUM (Data in metric tons of contained beryllium, unless noted) Domestic Production and Use: One company in Utah mined bertrandite ore and recovered beryllium hydroxide from this ore and from imported and domestic beryl. Beryllium hydroxide was shipped to a plant in Ohio, where it was converted into beryllium metal, alloys, and oxide. Another company in Pennsylvania purchased beryllium oxide from Asia and converted this material into beryllium alloys. Small quantities of beryl were recovered as a byproduct of U.S. pegmatite mining operations in various States. Beryllium consumption of 200 tons was valued at approximately $71 million, based on the producer price for beryllium-copper master alloy. Beryllium was used as an alloy and oxide in electronic components, 57%; as an alloy and oxide in electrical components, 20%; as an alloy, oxide, and metal in aerospace and defense applications, 13%; and as an alloy, metal, and oxide in other applications, 10%. Salient Statistics--United States: 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995e/ Production, mine 174 193 198 173 225 Imports for consumption, ore and metal 55 6 8 53 30 Exports, metal 33 41 20 29 55 Shipments from Government stockpile excesses1/ -- 215 231 2/ (2) 2/ (19) Consumption, apparent 203 159 183 198 200 Price, dollars: Domestic, metal, vacuum-cast ingot, per pound 308 308 308 275 275 Domestic, metal, powder blend, per pound 280 280 295 295 295 Domestic, beryllium-copper master alloy, per pound of contained beryllium 160 160 160 160 160 Domestic, beryllium oxide, powder, per pound 72.50 72.50 72.50 72.50 70.50 Imported ore, per stu (20 pounds) BeO 113 NA NA NA NA Stocks, consumer, yearend 112 111 114 113 113 Employment: Mine, full-time equivalent employeese/ 25 25 25 25 25 Primary refineriese/ 400 400 400 400 400 Net import reliance3/ as a percent of apparent consumption 14 E E 13 E Recycling: Substantial quantities of new scrap generated in the processing of beryllium-copper alloys were recycled. Small quantities of obsolete military equipment containing metallic beryllium were recycled. Import Sources (1991-94): Ore, metal, scrap, and master alloy: Russia, 30%; Germany, 21%; China, 11%; Brazil, 11%; and other, 27%. Tariff:Item Number Most favored nation (MFN) Non-MFN4/ 12/31/95 12/31/95 Ore and concentrates 2617.90.0030 Free Free. Unwrought beryllium 8112.11.6000 8.5% ad val. 25.0% ad val. Beryllium, wrought 8112.19.0000 5.5% ad val. 45.0% ad val. Beryllium-copper master alloy 7405.00.6030 6.0% ad val. 28.0% ad val. Beryllium oxide or hydroxide 2825.90.1000 3.7% ad val. 25.0% ad val. Depletion Allowance: 22% (Domestic), 14% (Foreign). Government Stockpile: Stockpile Status--9-30-95 Uncommitted Committed Authorized Disposals Material inventory inventory for disposal Jan.-Sept. 95 Beryl ore (11% BeO) 545 -- 545 -- Beryllium-copper master alloy 268 -- -- -- Beryllium metal 363 -- -- -- Prepared by Deborah A. Kramer, (703) 648-7719. BERYLLIUM Events, Trends, and Issues: Although U.S. beryllium demand remained flat, the mix of end products changed slightly. Beryllium metal demand decreased, but demand for beryllium alloys and beryllium oxide ceramics increased. Much of the increase in alloy demand was in automotive electronics and telecommunications and computers. One new application for beryllium-aluminum alloys was in some military helicopter electrooptical systems. Because a U.S. firm has developed a castable beryllium-aluminum alloy, this material could be used to replace aluminum in housings for avionics or in small structural components. Two U.S. firms began importing beryllium metal and alloys from Kazakstan during 1994. As a result of this importation, beryllium metal from Kazakstan became ineligible for special duty status under the Generalized System of Preferences on July 1, 1995, because the country exceeded its competitive need limits in 1994. The Defense Logistics Agency continued to offer 2,000-pound lots of beryl from the National Defense Stockpile for sale once a month. No bids for the material were received. Beryllium dust and fines have been recognized as the cause of berylliosis, a chronic lung disease. Harmful effects are minimized by maintaining a clean workplace and requiring the use of safety equipment. World Mine Production, Reserves, and Reserve Base: Mine production Reserves and reserve base5/ 1994 1995e/ United States 173 225 The United States has very little beryl that Argentina -- 1 can be economically handsorted from pegmatites. Brazil 34 30 The Spor Mountain area, Utah, contains a large Chinae/ 55 55 reserve base of bertrandite, which was being Kazakstane/ 4 4 mined. Domestic deposits of bertrandite ores Russiae/ 32 30 in Utah and Texas contain about 21,000 tons of Zimbabwe 1 1 beryllium. The world reserves and reserve base Other countries 1 1 are not adequately delineated. World total 300 347 World Resources: No quantitative information is available on foreign resources of beryllium-bearing minerals and rocks. The identified resources of beryllium in known domestic deposits are estimated at 66,000 tons of contained beryllium. Substitutes: Because of the relatively high price of beryllium, uses are expected to continue principally in applications that require its light weight, high strength, and high thermal conductivity. Steel, titanium, and graphite composites may be substituted for beryllium metal; phosphor bronze may be substituted for beryllium-copper alloys, but with substantial loss of performance. Aluminum nitride can substitute for beryllium oxide in some applications. e/Estimated. E Net exporter. NA Not available. 1/Data in parentheses denote stockpile acquisitions. 2/Data represent the net difference between the estimated beryllium content of beryl shipped for upgrading and stockpile receipts of beryllium metal. These data are not included in import reliance calculations. 3/Defined as imports - exports + adjustments for Government and industry stock changes. 4/See Appendix B. 5/See Appendix C for definitions. Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 1996