Beryllium in the United States

Mineral: Beryllium

The Where and Why:

Beryllium is primarily used as an alloying agent, strengthening/fortifying agent in mixed metal to produce beryllium copper. Beryllium copper is widely utilized in the production of springs, electrical contacts, spot-welding electrodes, and non-sparking tools. It is also additionally used as a structural material for high-speed aircraft, missiles, spacecraft, and communication satellites.

It had caught my interest since it’s used in so many everyday objects and as the base for components and device we happen to use every day. Its versatility, displayed in its use in larger and more involved technologies like aircraft assembly, demonstrate how such a simple metal can have a broad and influential impact on society, big and small.