Geochemistry Of Beryllium Research Articles

Dissolved beryllium (< 1 kDa) mobilized as a major element in groundwater in legacy mine waste.

Research regarding the geochemistry of beryllium (Be) in terrestrial environments is hindered by its high toxicity to humans and the low concentrations normally occurring in the environment. Although Be is considered an immobile element, extremely high dissolved concentrations have been detected in groundwater in the legacy Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) of Smaltjärnen, Sweden. Therefore, a detailed study was conducted to determine physiochemical parameters affecting the speciation of Be in the groundwater. Groundwater was sampled from 2016-2024 and filtered through 0.2 μm filters, whereas truly dissolved fraction (<1 kDa) samples were collected with dialysis membrane tubes in situ at groundwater wells. Secondary minerals on the tailings shore were studied by mineralogical methods and sequential extraction to trace the pathway whereby Be entered the downstream surface water. In part of the tailings, dissolved Be was detected in very high concentrations (average: 4.8 mg/L) in suboxic groundwater with pH from 6.0 to 6.4. Dialysis sampling in 2024 showed that more than 90% occurred as truly dissolved Be (<1 kDa). A significant correlation between Be and S was found, suggesting that sulfate complexes kept Be mobile in these pH conditions. Dissolved Be increased with decreased pH, and there is risk that the concentrations will increase further since sulfide oxidation with subsequent decrease in pH will continue for 100 of years in the TSF. In another part of the TSF, the pH was > 6.4 and dissolved Be was below the detection limit, possibly due to formation of Al(OH)3 (>0.2 μm) together with F and Zn. Secondary minerals on the shore of the tailings functioned as a temporary chemical barrier, scavenging Be primarily by secondary gypsum when present and otherwise by Fe hydr(oxides).

To the Geochemistry of Beryllium: The Other Side of the Coin

To the Geochemistry of Beryllium: The Other Side of the Coin

In situ quantitative analysis of beryllium by EPMA: analytical conditions and further insights into beryllium geochemistry

Accurate in situ analysis of beryllium (Be) is still a technical bottleneck in the fields of geoscience and materials science.

Geochemistry of beryllium in Bulgarian coals

Abstract The beryllium content of about 3000 samples (coal, coaly shales, partings, coal lithotypes, and isolated coalified woods) from 16 Bulgarian coal deposits was determined by atomic emission spectrography. Mean Be concentrations in coal show great variability: from 0.9 to 35 ppm for the deposits studied. There was no clear-cut relationship between Be content and rank. The following mean and confidence interval Be values were measured: lignites, 2.6 ± 0.8 ppm; sub-bituminous coals, 8.2 ± 3.3 ppm; bituminous coals, 3.0 ± 1.2 ppm; and anthracites, 19 ± 9.0 ppm. The Be contents in coal and coaly shales for all deposits correlated positively suggesting a common source of the element. Many samples of the coal lithotypes vitrain and xylain proved to be richer in Be than the hosting whole coal samples as compared on ash basis. Up to tenfold increase in Be levels was routinely recorded in fusain. The ash of all isolated coalified woods was found to contain 1.1 to 50 times higher Be content relative to its global median value for coal inclusions. Indirect evidence shows that Be occurs in both organic and inorganic forms. Beryllium is predominantly organically bound in deposits with enhanced Be content, whereas the inorganic form prevails in deposits whose Be concentration approximates Clarke values. The enrichment in Be exceeding the coal Clarke value 2.4 to 14.5 times in some of the Bulgarian deposits is attributed to subsynchronous at the time of coal deposition hydrothermal and volcanic activity.

Geochemistry of beryllium in the Mariza-east lignite deposit (Bulgaria)

Beryllium geochemistry in coal has been studied on the basis of its distribution in 1556 individual full channels of coal, coaly shales, partings, and lithotype samples from 11 profiles of the Mariza-east lignite deposit (Bulgaria). This is the largest lignite deposit in Bulgaria, producing coal for three Thermal Power Stations (TPS) and a briquette plant. The Be content was determined in the coal ash (500 °C) by atomic emission spectrography at a detection limit of about 1 ppm Be. The mean Be content for the different profiles ranged from 0.7 to 6.9 ppm Be, similar to that of global average for subbituminous coals. Higher concentrations of Be were found in the first seam with thickness from 1 to 4 m, whereas the second seam reached 24 m. Most of the xylain and vitrain samples showed lower Be content than the whole coal samples from which they were selected. The fusain samples were usually enriched in Be compared to the whole coal samples and the other lithotypes which is a specific feature of the deposit. Distribution of Be along vertical profiles follows that of ash. Beryllium in the lignite occurs predominantly in the inorganic matter as isomorphic admixtures and/or adsorbed on the clay minerals. A small portion is bound to the organic matter. These conclusions were based on circumstantial evidence: such as correlation with ash, aluminium, and germanium content; distribution in lithotypes; sink-float; and leaching experiments. The low Be content and its inorganic affinity are supposed to be the result of several factors: negligible influx of Be in solution in the swamp, large dimensions of the basin, great thickness of the main second seam, and long distance from the source province.

Beryllium geochemistry constraints on the hydraulic behavior of mud volcanoes: the Trinidad Island case

To constrain Trinidad mud volcanoes hydraulic behavior, both cosmogenic 10Be (t1/2=1.5 Myr) and 9Be concentrations have been measured in fluid and associated expelled mud. As previously evidenced [A.N. Dia, M. Castrec, J. Boulègue, P. Comeau, Trinidad Mud Volcanoes: where do the expelled fluids come from? Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 63 (1999) 1023–1038] from δ18O values and Cl concentrations, 9Be concentrations in the fluids mostly reflect the mixing of two deep components: REM I and REM II. REM I (δ18O=10.5‰, Cl≈275 mM and 9Be≈0.05 nM) has characteristics of a continental fluid while REM II (δ18O=3‰, Cl≈350 mM and 9Be≈1 nM) results from seawater–volcanogenic derived sediment interaction. Although 10Be concentrations in the fluid samples are close to the detection limit, the distribution of both beryllium isotopes between the hydroxylamine leachable and residual phases indicates exchange reaction with fluid younger than 15 Myr. Comparison between the lowest REM I 10Be/9Be ratio in fluid recorded by the hydroxylamine leachable phase (TD5 mud sample) and the 10Be/9Be ratio representative of meteoric contribution in the recharge area (TD8 fluid sample) yields a circulation rate of REM I fluid in the Trinidad mud volcanoes of several 10−1 m/yr.

Beryllium Geochemistry in the Lesni Potok Catchment (Czech Republic), 7 Years of Systematic Study

The biogeochemical study was carried out at the Lesni potok (LP)catchment, Central Bohemia, Czech Republic. The ecosystem was impacted by heavy acid depositionduring the industrial development in 1980–1990. The catchment is forested mostly by two tree species, Norwayspruce and European beech. The Be concentration in the granite bedrock is 12.6 mg kg-1. Theplagioclase contains the highest Be concentrations out of the rock-forming minerals. Elevatedconcentration of Be (5.4 mu;g L-1) in surface waters is a result of its mobilization from the soils(3.9 mg kg-1) and weathered rock by acid precipitation. As the pH of the precipitation and consecutivelypH of the surface waters is increasing in the Czech Republic, the Be concentrations in the surface watersgradually decrease. Groundwater with high pH values contains lower concentrations of Be (0.17 μg L-1)than surface waters. The soils at prone area of the catchment are depleted in Be compared to thesoils in the riparian zones. The vegetation located on the prone area contains lower concentrations of theBe than vegetation at riparian zones. The monitoring of Be in the environment is important with respectto its possible harmful effects on aquatic biota and root systems of the plants.

Revisão Sobre a Geoquímica do Berílio nos Materiais Naturais

During the middle of 60’s decade an intense investigation about of the beryllium geochemistry was developed, particularly by soviet researchers. After this period only rare studies were carry out. Currently, the economic value combined the possible danger that this element represents to environment have got a research toward a critical review of the geochemistry of this element. The purpose of this article is assemble the dispersed data relative to a beryllium behavior in geologic materials and evaluate its distribution in rocks, soil, water and plants. In addition, this paper comprises the chemistry, mineralogy and occurrence of beryllium in igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. As it is very important the speciations of Be in endogenous and exogenous processes are described. Some topics on possible impact in the environment and the importance of its biogeochemistry are emphasized. Also some analytical methods for Be are discussed.

98/00015 Geochemistry of beryllium in coals: ecological aspect

98/00015 Geochemistry of beryllium in coals: ecological aspect

Beryllium geochemistry in soils: evaluation of 10Be/ 9Be ratios in authigenic minerals as a basis for age models

Soils contain a diverse and complex set of chemicals and minerals. Being an ‘open system’, both in the chemical and nuclear sense, soils have defied quantitative nuclear dating. However, based on the published studies of the cosmogenic atmospheric 10Be in soils, its relatively long half-life (1.5 Ma), and the fact that 10Be gets quickly incorporated in most soil minerals, this radionuclide appears to be potentially the most useful for soil dating. We therefore studied the natural variations in the specific activities of 10Be with respect to the isotope 9Be in mineral phases in eight profiles of diverse soils from temperate to tropical climatic regimes and evaluated the implications of the data for determining the time of formation of soil minerals, following an earlier suggestion [Lal et al., 1991. Development of cosmogenic nuclear methods for the study of soil erosion and formation rates. Current Sci. 61, 636–639.]. We find that the 10Be/ 9Be ratios in both bulk soils and in the authigenic mineral phases are confined within a narrower range than in 10Be concentrations. Also, the highest 10Be/ 9Be ratios in authigenic minerals are observed at the soil-rock interface as predicted by the model. We present model 10Be/ 9Be ages of the B-horizon and the corresponding soil formation rates for several soil profiles. The present study demonstrates that the 10Be/ 9Be ratios in the authigenic phases, e.g. clay and Fe-hydroxides, can indeed be used for obtaining useful model ages for soils younger than 10–15 Ma. However, the present work has to be pushed considerably further, to take into account more realistic age models in which, for instance, downward transport 10Be and clays, and in-situ dissolution of clay minerals at depths, altering the 10Be/ 9Be ratios of the acidic solutions, are included. We show that in the case of younger soils (< 1 Ma) studied here, their 10Be inventories and 10Be/ 9Be ratios have been significantly disturbed possibly by mixing with transported soils.

Beryllium—Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Beneficiation

This paper presents a review of the geology, geochemistry and mineralogy of beryllium, and methods of beneficiation of beryl including the safety measures to be adopted while crushing and grinding of beryllium minerals. A typical lithophile element, beryllium forms a characteristic four fold coordination with oxygen forming the [BeO4]6− complex. Geochemically it accumulates in the acid and alkalic magmas during magmatic differentiation process. During crystallization of these two magmas beryllium follows different course; in the case of acid magma it gets concentrated in the residual pegmatitic and hydrothermal stage, while in the case of alkali magma it enters into the lattice of several rock forming and accessory minerals by diadochic capture preventing its concentration in the residual stage. Beryllium enters in the structure of as many as 40 minerals as an essential constituent and another 50 minerals as occasional and minor diadochic constituent. Of the 40 beryllium minerals, 26 are silicates reflect...

Comment on the paper of M. S. Rupasinghe et al.: The geochemistry of beryllium and fluorine in the Gem Fields of Sri Lanka

Comment on the paper of M. S. Rupasinghe et al.: The geochemistry of beryllium and fluorine in the Gem Fields of Sri Lanka

The geochemistry of beryllium and fluorine in the gem fields of Sri Lanka

A study of the abundance of Be in the gem sediments of Sri Lanka shows that Be is found in the range of 1–13 ppm. Be shows an irregular distribution among sediments. It occurs in the silicate form and due to the proximity to the beryllium bearing rocks, namely granites and pegmatites of the Highland and Southwest Groups of Sri Lanka, very little decomposition of the Be-bearing minerals had taken place. This is further aided by the high resistance to weathering of the beryllium minerals, particularly beryl and chrysoberyl.

(A. A.) Beus. Geochemistry of beryllium (translated by F. Lachman, edited by L. R. Page), San Francisco (Freeman), 1966, 401 pp., 61 figs., 148 tables. Price 105s.

(A. A.) Beus. Geochemistry of beryllium (translated by F. Lachman, edited by L. R. Page), San Francisco (Freeman), 1966, 401 pp., 61 figs., 148 tables. Price 105s.

Geochemistry of Beryllium by A. A. Beus, translated from the Russian by F. Lachman, 401 pp., 61 figs. W. H. Freeman and Co. Ltd., San Francisco and London, 1966. Price 105/—

Geochemistry of Beryllium by A. A. Beus, translated from the Russian by F. Lachman, 401 pp., 61 figs. W. H. Freeman and Co. Ltd., San Francisco and London, 1966. Price 105/—

The sedimentary geochemistry of the beryllium isotopes

The sedimentary geochemistry of beryllium has been investigated with a view toward the use of cosmic-ray-produced Be 10 for geochronology. Analyses of some Pacific ocean water samples give an average total Be content of 6 × 10 −13 parts per part (p.p.p.), less than half of which is retained by a Millipore filter. The concentration of Be 9 in five deep ocean sediment cores ranges from 2 to 3 p.p.m. These data indicate an ocean residence time for Be of the order of a few hundred years. Analyses of river water give concentrations of about 10 −10 p.p.p., substantiating this residence time. An abrupt change in Be −10 content with depth in a Pacific sediment core correlates with a change in the ioniumthorium ratio reported by Goldberg and Koide for the same core.