Samples Containing Beryllium

Minerals

Beryl (3BeO-Al₂O₃-6SiO₂) is the only mineral of more than thirty known that is of any commercial importance.

Powdered beryl ores are commonly fused with sodium carbonate with the proportion by weight of sodium carbonate to ore at two parts to one. A sodium carbonate fusion is performed in Pt at 1000 °C and the ore requires the full temperature for 30-45 minutes. The fuseate is brought into solution with dilute HCl, nitric or combinations with HF depending upon the dilution ratio of sample and length of time standing before analysis (keep the concentration of Si below or at ~10 ppm for long term solution stability without HF present; otherwise add HF to maintain long term stability of the Si).

Beryl is also soluble in HF/sulfuric acid mixtures.

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