Beryllium Minerals in New Hampshire.

Even though beryl mining in New Hampshire has rarely been economically viable, the mineral clubs of New Hampshire proposed beryl as the state mineral because it is essential for a modern economy and because there are notable occurrences in the state. Bertrandite in LCT pegmatites is an alteration product of beryl, and in some cases, it completely replaces beryl or lines the cavities left by dissolved beryl crystals. Beryl is a beryllium aluminum silicate, Be SB 3 sb Al SB 2 sb Si SB 6 sb O SB 18 sb , containing approximately 5.3 weight percent beryllium in ideal beryl with slightly less in common beryl, a sufficient concentration for beryl to be considered an ore of the metal. Beryl: Be3Al2Si6O18 Beryl is the most widespread beryllium mineral and was the most important ore of beryllium until superseded by bertrandite in the early 1960s. Bob Janules, a New Hampshire mineral field collector, reviewed the first draft, and his experience in collecting New Hampshire beryllium minerals greatly contributed to this article. [Extracted from the article]