Beryllium, Lithium & Magnesium & their Alloys, with Reference to the possibility of their Manufacture in India

Abstract

The paper deals with the possibility of the manufacture of light metals beryllium, lithium and magnesium and their alloys in India. The Indian occurrences of the source materials of these metals are reviewed along with the part these metals play in world peace-time and war-time industries. The results of over-production of magnesium in the United States as an incentive for finding new applications for the metal are drawn attention to. It is pointed out that while Indian magnesite reserves are good, and those of beryl are proving to be fairly good, the position with regard to the reserves of lithium minerals is not so good, but may improve with future investigations, The main metallurgical aspects of the problem have been briefly correlated with the new hydro-electricity projects now under development. Since the author believes that the importance of a material is best judged by its utilitarian aspects, he has laid stress rather on the uses of these metals and their alloys, etc., with the object of drawing the attention of the Indian geologist and metallurgist to the subject.