Beryllium

Beryllium is a very brittle metallic mineral that is mainly used in the electronic industry. Its main ore consists of beryl. When it is in its transparent form, beryl is considered a gem. This is commonly mistaken for quartz, as it resembles it quite a bit. Beryl can be found in crystal (many times in gem quality) and in column masses. The colors of beryl range from white to blue, yellow, green and pink. Beryl can almost always be found in pegmatite material and is not commonly found in a high temperature vein. The luster of beryl is glassy, its hardness is of 8, and it has a specific gravity of 2.6 to 2.8. Beryllium is used in many different ways such as an alloying agent in the production of beryllium copper; sheets of beryllium foil are also used for X-ray detection diagnostics. It is also used in the reproduction of microscopic integrated circuits in the field of X-ray lithography, as a neutron reflector and moderator in nuclear reactors, in nuclear weapons to encircle the plutonium circle that decreases the mass of the sphere, in neutron sources where it is combined with an alpha emitter, it is also used for making gyroscopes, a range of computer equipment, watch springs and instruments that require light weight, rigidity and dimensional firmness and many other things.