Beryllium is widely distributed in the earth's crust at trace concentration, 2.8 mg/kg. The element was first discovered by Vauquelin in 1797. Wohler and Bussy in 1828 independently isolated beryllium in the metallic form from its oxide. In nature, beryllium occurs in several minerals, mostly combined with silica and alumina. The most common minerals are beryl, 3BeO•Al2O3•6SiO2; chrysoberyl, BeO•Al2O3; phenacite, 2BeO•SiO2; and bertrandite, 4BeO•2SiO2•H2O. Also, it is found in trace amounts in the ore feldspar, and in volcanic ash. It's abundance in the sea water is estimated in the range 5.6 ppt.
Beryllium oxide is a component of precious stones, emerald, aquamarine and topaz. Beryllium is utilized in nuclear reactors to moderate the velocity of slow neutrons. It is hot-pressed to appropriate shapes and sizes that yield high strength and ductility for its applications.
