,E.

conom•cGeology
VoL $4, 1959, pp. 1103-1114

A BERYLLIUM DETECTOR FOR FIELD

EXPLORATION •

GEORGE M. BROWNELL

CONTENTS
PAGE

Abstract ............................................................. 1 ! 03
Introduction .......................................................... 1103
Geophysicalequipment................................................. 1104 ß
Assaying ............................................................. 1109
Exploration .......................................................... 1112
Acknowledgments..................................................... 111$
References ..................... ß....................................... 1114

ABSTRACT

The portableinstrument,here referred to as a '•erylometer," is a new

geophysicaltool for the use of the geologistin both explorationand ex-
amination of beryllium deposits. This is a scintillation counter which
containsa phosphorhaving a high neutron to gamma ratio of detection
and makesuse of the Be•(y,n)Be s reaction. A gamma emitting source
is carried in a shield on the bottom of the instrument which, when set
upon any beryllium-bearingmineral or rock, causesthe emissionof neu-
trons from the berylliumwhich are immediatelyrecognizable.Gamma
rays are biasedout and neutronsonly are counted. An automaticcount-
ing registerrecordsthe neutroncountand sincethis is directlypropor-
tionalto the berylliumcontentof a sample,a simplemeansof analysis
is provided.
The useof berylliumwouldexpandrapidlyif adequatereservescould
be established
and also if, with increasedproduction,a lower cost could
be attained. The discoveryof non-pegmatitic depositsoffers a better
prospectfor the developmentof substantialreserves in contrast to the
generallysmallsizeof beryllium-bearing
zonesas foundin pegmatites.
Towardsthis endthe Berylometerprovidesa much-needed fieldinstrument
for all persons
engagedin the searchfor berylliumore.

INTRODUCTION

THe-amazingadvances
in nuclearphysicsduringthe pastdecadeand the
application
of thisnewknowledge to thedevelopmentof nuclearpower,has
created
a demand for elements
previouslylittleknownor, untilrecently,
of
minor industrialsignificance.Since theseelementsmust be obtainedfrom
the earth,the problem
of discovering
newandmoreadequate
sources
is a
constant
challenge
to theeconomic
geologist.
Currentlyonesuchproblemis the discovery
of moreabundantreserves
of Beryllium,
whichis an element
possessing
a numberof peculiar
qualities
• Presented
at the St. Louismeetingof the Societyof Economic
Geologists,
November,
1958.
1103
1104 GEORGE M. BROWNELL

thatgiveit an importance in nuclearreactorconstruction aswell as a potential

valuein high speedaircraft,missileand spaceship development.Beryllium
is a steel-graymetal with a specificgravity of only 1.874,beingthe lightest
metal havingsubstantialstrength. It has a meltingpoint of 2343ø F. As
an alloyingmetalwith copper,nickel,and others,berylliumgenerallyimparts
an ability to be hardenedon heat treatmentand a resistanceto corrosion.
As an oxideit is a refractorywith high thermalconductivity;and eitheras
the oxide or in the metallic form it is a moderator and a reflector of neutrons.
This latter propertymakesit highly desirableas a shield surroundingthe
core of power reactors,its primary purposebeingthe reflectionof neutrons
from the chainreactionback into the core,thus preventingthe lossof power.
This reducesthe numberof fuel rodsneededand increases the efficiency(1, 2).
Presentinadequatesuppliesof berylliumare obtainedlargely from the
one material "beryl." To date, most productionhas come from pegmatite
dikes where it is commonlyrestrictedto certain zones. In placesit occurs
in distinctivegreenhexagonalcrystalsthat are easilyrecognized,but elsewhere
it is yellowishor evenwhite and may so resemblequartz or feldsparas to be
readily overlooked. Also there are other beryllium-bearingminerals,rela-
tively uncommonso far as now known,occurringunder geologicalconditions
that have not yet beengiven adequateattention. Apart from the difficulties
of recognizingmany berylliummineralsat sight,chemicalassaysfor this ele-
ment are difficult and expensiveand very frequently erratic in their results
(7). In the routineanalysisof rocks,any berylliumthat may be presentis
most likely includedwith the aluminumunlessspecialcare is taken to effect
the separationof the two elements. These factorshave all contributedin
maintainingberyllium as a relatively costly metal but despitethe cost the
recentnuclearpower and missiledevelopments have createda demandfor
this importantelement. A specialeffort is now requiredin order to locate
more adequatesourcesof supplyand towardsthis end the author believesa
muchgreaterattentionshouldbe paidto non-pegmatitic berylliumoccurrences
as a possiblesolutionto this presentproblem.

GEOPHYSICAL EQUIPMENT

A new portablefield instrument,the "Berylometer,"(3) has recentlybeen

developedand this promisesto be of much assistance in the field for both
explorationand examinationof berylliumdeposits. It makespracticaluse
of a well-knownnuclearreactionto detectthe presenceof berylliumin rocks
or specimens, and providesa rapid methodof assaying. When beryllium
in any chemicalcombination is bombarded by gammarays havingan energy
higherthan 1.66 Mev, photoneutrons are emittedin the followingreaction:
Be9 (•,n) Be8
The sourceof gammaradiationemployedin the Berylometeris Antimony124,
a pile producedradioisotope
with a sixty day half-life. About 76 percentof
itsgammaradiationis abovethe 1.66Mev activation energynecessary to bring
 BERYLLIUM DETECTOR FOR FIELD EXPLORATION 1105

about this transmutation(1). Deuterium is the only other elementin the

periodictable that undergoesa similar (y,n) reactionwith natural or arti-
ficially activated radioactivesources. Other gamma-neutronreactionsre-
quire gamma ray energiessuch as may be producedonly by accelerators.
Deuteriumoccursin only traceamountsin water, however,and the threshold
of gammaradiationnecessaryto bring about the emissionof neutronsfrom
deuteriumis 2.23 Mev whichis higher than the radiationgiven off by Anti-
mony 124. Consequently,the productionof neutrons from beryllium is
specificwith this equipment,there beingno reactionfrom any other element
to confusethe operator.
The form of the Berylometeris illustratedin Figure 1. It is a scintillation
counterincorporatinga 5-inchphotomultiplier tube and phosphor,the latter
beingan enrichedboronpolyester-zinc sulphidediscthat has a high neutron
detectionefficiency,abouttwicethat of the enrichedBFs tube commonlyused
in neutrondetectors. Although the BF s tube may possessa superiorneu-
tron:gamma discriminationability, the geometryof the disc type of detector

Fro. 1. The portableBerylometerfor field explorationwith earphonesand

impulse counter.
 1106 GEORGE M. BROWNELL

is very much better suitedto the constructionof a portablefield instrument.

An Antimony124sourcesealedin a metalcapsuleis fixed in a cavityon the
lower side of a lead shield that is attached to the base of the instrument while
it is in operation,as shownin Figure 2. When the instrumentis 'not in use,
this shieldis detachedand depositedin a lead "castle"that conformsto safety
regulations.
As a safetymeasure,the Berylometeris suspended from a poleabouteight
feet long carriedbetweentwo men duringnormal field use, as in Figure 3.
By this meansthe operatorsmaintaina safe distancefrom the sourcewhose
gammaradiationis directeddownwards. The instrumentcan readilybe set
downon any rock outcropand the presenceof berylliumdetectedimmediately
by meansof ear phonesworn by the rear man who directsthe work. How-
ever, for quantitativemeasurement or for assayingof samples,the earphones
are replacedby a smallportablecountingregisterthat automatically records
the neutroncount. The total weightof the instrumentis 10 poundsand with
shieldattachedas carriedin the field is about25 pounds.
The "castle"is a separateunit that housesthe shieldedsourcewhen the
instrumentis not in use. The unit usedby the writer consistedof a strong
plywoodbox containinga leadcupin whichthe shieldrestedto provideaddi-
tional shieldingaroundthe source. The box is 10 inchessquareand when
the shieldis inside,it weighsa total of about75 pounds. In practiceone
leavesthe castlein camp,in the car, or whatevervehicleis used,and carries

TO EARPHONES
OR COUNTER
, ,

ELECTRONICS

PHOSPHOR

LEAD SHIELD

SOURCE

Fro. 2. Diagram showingthe relative positionof the major components of

the portable Berylometer. The lead shield carrying the radioactive source is
detachable from the base of the instrument.
 BERYLLIUM DETECTOR FOR FIELD EXPLORATION 1107

. •...•..:•: •: •.
.... - •.•.... i•.... :.•. : , -;-•'•;•
. .• .• -• • •
, ß - .. . •.•
•,, •--..
...... ß

ß '" •'-• " :'•"•'• • •' *7*':.

•; - -.. - '- '• 5- ß •' * •". •- •- ..

•: .. . .._ .•. - . - .;..•.••Z .; -.,7•. . .. . .-
":•.c.':';'•;;,[•.;e•....•: -•-':;.i•;• ':X¾•"
;--*:* ..... •-.':
....• .*
, . .:.•.... '•:: . *•.
.•* :. :•%..• . ......... . .....
...**-:-; .... y:* . .•, .........
,• -- • ......
.. , .
:..... .:.**'- . : ...- -•, . :.,. :•'-•.m • . :....
..... •.-.,'... ; • ; ..... • •'•-:.., •:• ß

FIG. 3. The Berylometeris carried by two men in normal field operations.

The r•r man is using earphones.

the instrumentwith the shieldattachedto the site of operationswhenever

this involves travel on foot.
There is only one discriminatorcontrolknob for operatingthe instrument,
besidesthe on-off switch,and it is setat a point just beyondwherethe gamma
rays from the sourceare cut off or reducedto a backgroundcountof three or
four per minute. This can be accomplished becausethe scintillationsin the
phosphorcausedby the gammarays from the Antimony 124 sourceare less
intensethan thosecausedby neutrons. Consequently,the smaller electrical
pulsesfrom the photomultipliertube due to gammaray activitycan be biased
out by the use of a suitablediscriminatorin the electroniccircuit and hence
only the larger pulsesdue to the neutronsremain to be counted.
Figure 4 is a graph on semi-logarithmic scaleshowingon curve A the
countingrate of the gammarays at different settingsof the bias controlob-
tainedwhenthe instrumenthad a 46 millicurieAntimony 124 sourceattached
ready for operationbut no berylliumpresent.
Then when the instrumentwas lowereduponan 80 gram sampleof 10
percentBeO, countswere again taken. By subtractingthe gammaback-
groundfrom the total for each position,respectively,the resultingneutron
countwas derivedas shownby B. For normal operation,then, the discrim-
inator dial shouldbe set in this instanceat a point about 76 where the back-
groundgammacountis only 4 and the neutroncountfrom the berylliumin
this particularsampleis just above800 countsper minute.
SinceAntimony124 has only a 60 day half life, its gammaradiationwill
decreasesteadilyand curve A in Figure 4 will move steadilyto the right.
Replacingthe 46 millicurie sourceby anothersourceof only 12 millicuries
changedthe positionof curveA to A • and this resultedin a corresponding
1108 GEORGE M. BROWNELL

7oo __
i

5 i
4 i
$

40

Bios C;otrol Setlin9

FzG.4. A.Gamma background

count
froma46millicurie
source
oœ
Antimony
124.B. Neutron
count,
less
background,
froman80gram sample
containing
10% BeO with
the46millicurie
source.
A'Gamma background
count
from
a12
millicurie
source
of Antimony
124.B' Neutron
count,
lessbackground,
from
an80gram
sample
containing
10%BeOwiththe12millicurie
source.
decrease
inneutrons
fromtheberyllium
in thesample.
ButWhenoneset
thediscriminator
toa position
where
only4 gamma counts
perminute
were
obtained
fromthe12millicurie
source,
andtheinstrument
again
placed
upon
the80gram
sample
of10percent
BeO,instead
ofobtaining
acount
ofabout
200neutrons
aswouldbeexpected,
thecount
wasactually
slightly
above300.
Thismust
result
froma considerably
smaller
pile-up
ofgammaraysinthe
phosphor
from
theweaker
source,
which
permits
alowering
ofthediscrim-
inator
levelwithconsequently
a higher
neutron
detection
efficiency.
Thefortunate
increase
inneutron
detection
efficiency
astheAntimony
124
source
loses
strength
extends
theuseful
lifeofthesource
considerably.
This
should
permit
asourcestarting
at80millicuries
togivegood performance
forat least
twohalflivesorforfourmonths
in a portable
fieldinstrument,
though
therequirement
'oftheindividual
operator
willdetermine
how much
lower
itmaybepermitted
togoandstillremain
useful.It isobvious
that
thesafety
factor
afforded
bythelead
shielding
becomes
greaterasthestrength
ofthesource
declines
butthisshould
notlessen
theoperator's
awareness
that
hecarries
adangerous
product.There
willbetimes
whenhemusthold
the
instrument
byhand
against
asloping
surface
oreven
thevertical
walls
ofan
underground
mine,
buttheduration
ofsuchaction
should
bemade asbrief
aspossible.
Thewearing
ofafilm
badgeformeasuring
exposure
toradiation
 BERYLLIUM DETECTOR FOR FIELD EXPLORATION 1109

is a requirementfor any personpossessing the necessarylicenseto use a

radioactivesourceand this may be worn at aboutankle height.
When the Antimony 124 is to be replacedin the shield,,it is shippedin
its castleto the supplierwherethe spentsourceis replacedby a freshsource,
the operatortherebybeingrelievedof any responsibility for handlingor dis-
posingof the radioisotope.
ASSAYING

The useof Be9(y,n)Be8 reactionto determinethe berylliumcontentof a

sampleis not new. Pannelland Freyberger(4), (5) usedradiumand Anti-
mony 124 sourcesof about 1 curie strengthto detectas little as 1 milligram
of Be in ore. By this meansalsothey developedan automaticpicker to re-
movesmallpiecesof beryl from a movingbelt.
This schemewas further developedby Gaudin and Pannell to permit
analyzingquantitativelyfor beryllium. Using an Antimony 124 sourceof
aboutonecuriestrengthand a largesample,they coulddetect1 to 2 partsper
millionof beryllium.A recentpaper(6) describes
the useof the (,,n)
reactionemployingpoloniumas the source. In eachof thesemethodsboron
tri-fluoride tubes were used to measure the neutron count.
The neutroncountobtainedfrom a sampleis directlyproportionalto the
berylliumcontent. A simplecomparison in countingrate betweena standard
and an unknownsampleof similar weight and geometrywill determinethe
berylliumcontentof the latter. The author usesa flat metal 2-ounceoint-
ment can of about2.5 inchesdiameterand .75 inch thick that holds80 gram
samples,and also the 4-ouncesize. Standardshaving 1, 5 and 10 percent
berylliumoxide were preparedby thoroughlymixing the requiredproportions
of oxide with quartz and feldsparground to about 100 meshand the cans
sealed. Larger containersfor low-gradesamplesare desirableto increase
the countingrate. However,suchsyntheticstandardsare not satisfactory for
continuedoperationbecausethe very fine BeO sifts throughthe rock powder
and does not maintain a uniform distribution. Since a suitable binder with-
out hydrogenor other elementthat might influencethe neutroncount has
not yet been suggested,the best standardsamplesfor continuoususe are
madefrom groundberyl and feldsparmixturesthat have been sievedto a
reasonablyuniformsize.
Care mustbe exercisedin makingcomparativeassaysto ensurethe main-
tenanceof exactlythe samegeometry. The procedurefollowedin obtaining
accurateassayswith the portableinstrumentinvolvesgrindingand weighing
and then compactingthe sampleinto the can by pressingthe material firmly
down with the bladeof a spatula. Any variationin bulk betweensamplesis
takenup by placingdiscsbetweenthe top of the sampleand the lid of the
container. The can is then inverted and the instrument lowered so the full
weightof the instrumentrests'directlyupon the bottomof the samplecon-
tainer. The operator can readily constructa simple guide to insure the
uniform geometry. By followingthis procedureone shouldobtain reliable
assays. Figure 5 showsthe straight line curve obtainedfrom standard
samplesmadewith knowncontentsof berylliumoxide.
 1110 GEORGE M. BROWNELL

15

14

12

--

200 400 600 800 I000 1200

NEUTRON COUNT PER MINUTE

ß Fx•. 5. Variation in the neutroncountfrom beryllium-bearing samplesis a

straight line function of the beryllium content.

To obtain the true neutron count one must, of course,subtract the small
backgroundcountfromthetotal. Also,the discriminator
settingmustremain
the sameduringreadings
of the backgroundandsamplecounts. In counting
randomevents,the standarddeviationis the squareroot of the number of
counts. The probableerror is roughly two-thirdsof the standarddeviation.
Thus, to attainan accuracyof about1 percent,it is necessaryto accumulate
around4,500counts. However,for approximate assays,an accuracyof about
5 percentmightbeadequate for whicha countof only200 is required. With
a 46-millicurie
source,
a 10 percentBeOsampleof 80 gramsweightwill give
a neutroncountof 850 per minuteor better,depending
uponthe efficiency
of
the phosphor. As the sourcebecomes weaker,the time requiredwill increase.
The 80-gramsampleof 1 percentBeO gaveonly 80 countsper minutewith
a sourceof about38 millicuries,so for low materiallarger samplesare de-
sirable. Fig. 6 showstheeffectof variationin sizeof sample. CurveA gives
the neutroncountfor a seriesof 10 percentBeO samplesof uniformdiameter
but increasingdepthin 20-gramincrements.No significantresponsewas
obtainedbeyonda depthof about1.5 inches. Curve B was obtainedfrom a
testin whichthedepthof samplewasuniformbut the diameterprogressively
increased.With a depthof 1.55 inches,a 2 percentBeO sampleattained
its limitingvalueat a diameterof about7 inches.
It is suggested,
therefore,that a meansof directassaying
is possible
by
settingthe .Berylometeron an outcropand obtaininga neutroncountfrom a
volumeof rock approximatelythe volumeof a standardsample1.5 inches
 BERYLLIUM DETECTOR FOR FIELD EXPLORATION 1111

3,

A - io%BeO Diom.2.4'
B - 2% BeO DeplhI
Sourcn - 38 mc

2 3 4 5 6
Inches

Fxc. 6. Limiting rangeof berylliumactivationas shownby the neutroncount

obtainedfrom samples.Arewith constantdiameterbut increasingthickness.
B---constant thickness but with increasing diameter.

deepand7 inches
in diameter.Repeating
thisat uniformly
spaced
intervals,
one couldobtaina statisticalaveragethat would providean evaluationfor
the area covered. Someallowancemustbe madefor the irregularitiesof the
rock surfacebecauseof the short range of the activationprocess. A pre-
liminarytestwith a source
at about37 millicuriestrengthsuggests
that each
readingbe increasedsomewhatas follows:
relief •As inch--approximately10 percent
¾• inch•pproximately 20 percent
•/• inch--approximately30 percent
Possiblysomecorrectionfactorsshouldbe derivedfor the differencein
densitybetweenthe solid rock and the pulverizednature of the standard
sample. However,the authorhas had no opportunityas yet to obtainthis
data nor to test this suggested directmethodof evaluationof a beryllium-
bearingdeposit. But shouldit proveto be practical,there will undoubtedly
be applicationswhereit offersadvantages over the conventionalmethodsof
cuttingand preparingsamplesor the grain measurement method (7) of
determininggrade of a deposit. Most reliableresultswould, of course,be
obtainedwherevaluesare disseminated throughoutthe massratherthan con-
centratedin large isolatedcrystals.
A smallportableimpulsecounterhasbeendeveloped for usein the field
with the Berylsmeter. It weighsonly about3 pounds,it is just 6.5 inches
1112 GEORGE M. BROWNELL

longand is poweredby two 7.5 volt transistor-type batteries. The cableto

the counterusesthe sameconnectionas the earphones. The transistorcircuit
in the counteractuatesa mechanicalregisterthat is reasonablyaccurateup to
severalhundredcountsper minutebut for higher countsit may be switched
over to a scaleof four by which deviceevery fourth count receivedby the
-electronic circuit is fed into the mechanical counter. Should the scale of four
be employed,one merely multipliesthe recordedcountby this factor and in
this way the mechanicaldevice can render a much more accuratecount.
Since,in practice,assaysare madeby comparingthe neutroncountof samples
that are of the sameorder of BeO content,any small lossin countdue to the
relatively long resolvingtime of the mechanicalcounter appliesto both.
Figure 5 showsthe distributionof assayvaluesof ten chemicallyanalyzed
samplesof high grade berylliumore as obtainedfrom a purchaserof beryl.
These countswere all obtainedwith the portablemechanicalcounteron 80
gram samplesand showreasonably closeagreementwith the four synthetic
standards.
Commercialchemicaland spectrographicassaysfor beryllium are rela-
tively costlyand all too frequentlyunreliable,and the advantages
of being
able to make analysiswith the berylometerwhile on a prospectare obvious.
A modifiedtypeof the Berylometeris availablefor usein a laboratorywhere
heavier shieldingpermitsthe safe use of a strongergamma source. The
resultinghighercountingrate thenrequiresthe useof a standardlaboratory
scaler. Also, the laboratorymodelprovidesfor making analysisof aqueous
solutions as well as solids.

EXPLORATION

The discovery
of new sources
of berylliumhas,up until now, beenlargely
dependent
upontherecognition
at sightof beryllium-bearing
minerals. Apart
from those occurrences of typically distinctyellowishgreen beryl crystals,
visual identificationis not easy. The most useful servicethe Berylometer
can performis to providethe prospector and explorationgeologistwith an
instrumentthat canpositivelyidentifyberylliumin any form. The discovery
of berylliumin new and unsuspected relationships
is to be expected.Also,
in the re-examinationof any known occurrence,there may be revealedan
extensionof boundariesor a distributionof associateddepositsbeyondthe
presently
recognized
boundaries.A few illustrations
chosen
at randommay
serveto illuminatethesepoints.
Pegmatites.--The
HardingMine (8) in north-central
New Mexicooffers
a goodexampleof the occurrence
of berylin formsnot easilyrecognized.
Thispegmatite
hadbeenminedfor its contentof lepidoIite
duringthe 1920's,
and in 1942 for microlite. Not until 1942 was beryl recognized. It was
mistakenfor milky quartz,yet it occurredin massesup to eightfeet thick.
Someof it has a slightpinkishtint. This situationis not unique,however,
for whiteberylthat is not easilydistinguished
from the surrounding feldspar
and quartzis encountered in manypegrnatites.
 BERYLLIUM DETECTOR FOR FIELD EXPLORATION 1113

Largetonn•/ges
'ofdisseminated
berylareknown
in thepegmatites
ofthe
tin-spodumene belt near King's Mountain,North Carolina (9). The only
berylliummineralyet recognized is beryl,makingup about0.4 percentof the
rock, and this is evenlydistributedas fine-grainedcrystalsthat may be re-
coveredby milling at somefuture date. White beryl predominates and here
also it is hard to recognizesinceits color and lustre are not very different
from that of the associatedquartzand feldspar.
Veins.---A substantialnumberof veins are reportedto carry beryllium.
The BoomerMine, near Lake Georgein the Pike's Peak area, Colorado,was
openedin 1956in a vein that provideda considerabletonnageof direct ship-
ping ore. Coarseberyl crystalscarriedmostof the beryllium.butthereis also
the mineral"bertranditc"(42% BeO), a colorless berylliumsilicatederived
from the hydrothermal alterationof beryl. This mineralis very difficultto
recognizeand its presence
may rendera vein richerin berylliumthan a visual
inspectionwould suggest.• This vein also carriesabundanttopaz, fluorite,
quartz and sericiteand locally sulfides. Sulfides,however,are not a normal
associateof beryllium.
Phenaciteis a constituentof quartz veinsand pegmatitesof the Mount
Anteroregionof Colorado(10), but the similaritybetweenquartzand phen-
acitesuggests that the latter mineralmay be frequentlyoverlooked. Both are
hard vitreousmineralsand eachmay occurin colorless hexagonalcrystals
that are indistinguishable exceptthat quartz may be terminatedby the six
pyramidfaceswhereasthe endof a phenacite crystalmayrarelydisplay0nly
the threefacesof a rhombohedron.Any high-temperature type of vein dis-
tinguished by the presence of fluorite,tin, tungsten,or molybdenum shouldbe
testedfor the presenceof beryllium.
An interestingberyllium vein is locatedabout four miles north-eastof
Bagdad,Arizona, where a vertical albite dike abouttwelve incheswide tra-
versesa massivebiotitegranite. A grayishgreenvein of beryl runsalong
one sideof the felsite. This smallvein, abouttwo incheswide, possesses
a
cruderadiatingstructureperpendicular to the contact. On the opposite
side
of the dike there is a fine-grainedband of greenishmaterialthat resembles
epidote,
butthe Berylometerreadilyshowed
that thismaterialalsois beryl.
Beryl-bearingveinshavebeenfoundin a numberof placesin the south-
westernUnitedStatesandmaybe morecommon thangenerallyrecognized.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The development of the Berylometer into a practicalinstrument for pros-

pectingandlaboratory
analysis is not the accomplishment of any oneperson.
The authorgratefullyacknowledges
the contributions
of his associates,
K. I.
Roulston,R. W. Pringle,and B. L. Funt; and to NuclearEnterprises
Ltd.
of Winnipeg,especially
A.M. Roulston,for assistance in experimentalin-
1114 GEORGE M. BROWNELL

strument construction;and to Dr. J. J. Norton for critically reading the

manuscript.
DEPARTMENTOF GEOLOGY,
UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA,
WINNIPEG, CANADA,
Dec. 18, 1958
.4•thor's/Vote: Since writing this paper, a method of bonding standard sampleswith sulphur
has been adopted; and also a substantial increase in the neutron count has been achieved. For
.containingsamplesassayingin the 0.1 to 1.0 per cent BeO range, or lower, the 35 ram film can
of 5 inch (2 pound) or ? inch (3 pound) diameter is recommended.

REFERENCES

1. White, D. W., Jr., and Burke, J. E., 1958, The metal beryllium: Am. Soe. for Metals,
Cleveland, Oh{o.
2. Bowland, Lawrence F., 1958, Beryllium present and potential uses: The BeryIl{um Corp.,
Reading, Penn.
3. Nuclear Enterprises Ltd., 1750 Pembina Hwy., Winnipeg 9, Canada.
4. Pannell, J. H., and Freyberger, W. L., 1949, Preliminary experimentson the (%#) re-
action for analysing and picking beryl: AEC Document MITC-124.
5. Gaudin, A.M., Dasher, J., Pannell, J. H., and Freiberger, W. F., 1950, Use of an induced
nuclear reaction for the concentration of beryl: Am. Inst. Min. Metal Eng. Trans.,
v. 13, Tech. Pub. 2812-B; Mining Engineering, v. 187, p. 495.
6. Cantwell, T., Hawks, H. E., and Rasmussen,N. C., 1958, A nuclear detector for beryllium
minerals: A.I.M.E. Meeting, New York, February. Reprint 5820A8.
7. Norton, J. J., and Page, L. R., 1956, Methods used to determine grade and reserves of
pegmatites: Mining Engineering, April.
8. Montgomery, A., 1957, The harding pegrnatite--A remarkable storehouse of massive
white beryl: The Mining World, July.
9. Griffiths, W. R., 1954, Beryllium resourcesof the tin-spodumlebelt in l•Iorth Carolina:
U.S. Geol. Survey, Cite. 309.
10. Adams, J. W., 1953, Beryllium deposits of Mr. Antero, Colorado: U.S. Geol. Survey
Bull., 982-D.