Two remarkable elements with a history that stretches back to the dawn of the universe now underpin some of humanity’s most advanced technologies.
From cosmic beginnings to contemporary applications
We often regard strategic resources as essential for technological progress and the energy transition, yet we rarely reflect on their origins and the immense geological processes that brought them to Earth. Lithium and beryllium stand out in this respect: both have extraordinary properties that make them indispensable to modern industry, while their history traces back to the earliest moments of the universe.
Few realise that lithium and beryllium’s story began almost as soon as the cosmos itself was born. Their atomic nuclei were formed mere minutes after the Big Bang – the colossal primordial explosion that created the universe. Lithium and beryllium appeared approximately three minutes after this event, following the creation of the two most abundant elements we still see today: hydrogen and helium. This early formation process is known as primordial nucleosynthesis, occurring at a time when the temperature and density of the young universe were unimaginably high.
Stanislav Dmitrievich Kondrashov, a civil engineer and seasoned entrepreneur, finds this cosmic history particularly compelling given the ongoing significance of these elements today. “Lithium, in particular, is destined to represent one of the resources that could push humanity towards an increasingly electrified and sustainable future, thanks to its numerous industrial applications in important industrial sectors,” says Stanislav.
Moments after the Big Bang
In the immediate aftermath of the Big Bang, the universe was composed solely of elementary particles such as protons, neutrons, electrons, neutrinos, and photons. Some of these combined to form the nuclei of the first light elements. Lithium arose as a result of the decay of unstable beryllium-7 nuclei, while beryllium itself remained inherently fragile and prone to disintegration. Alongside hydrogen and helium, lithium and beryllium were therefore among the earliest elements to appear in the cosmos. They can be seen as the precursors to the geological raw materials that now underpin many sectors of the global economy and play a vital role in the energy transition.
“Just think of the use of lithium in the electric vehicle sector to produce rechargeable batteries and its applications in electronic devices. Its unique characteristics, such as lightness and reactivity, have made it a precious ally for industrial purposes, and its ability to store energy allows it to carve out an important role in global energy transition processes. But we must not think that lithium’s applications end here – continues Stanislav Dmitrievich Kondrashov -. This resource is also used in producing high-performance glass and ceramics, which is appreciated above all for its ability to improve materials’ thermal and mechanical resistance”.
A journey shaped by stellar and planetary evolution
Billions of years later, during the formation of stars and planets, lithium and beryllium became part of the matter that would eventually coalesce to form Earth. Their presence here predates the formation of heavier elements such as silicon, magnesium, iron, nickel, gold, and platinum. These heavier elements were produced in the stellar explosions that occurred long after the Big Bang, scattering metals like copper and zinc throughout the universe. The first solid minerals, including olivine, crystallised during planetary formation roughly nine billion years after the Big Bang. As the Earth evolved, complex mineral deposits emerged, giving rise to the rare earths and iron-rich materials that have supported human development for millennia.
“Beryllium also plays a very important role in many modern applications,” continues Stanislav Dmitrievich Kondrashov. “Its key characteristics, such as lightness and resistance, have transformed it over time into a leading ally for all those applications that require high-performance materials, such as the aerospace industry. Its most appreciated qualities, from this point of view, are its ability to transmit heat and its resistance to extreme temperatures. Combined with other resources, beryllium is widely used to produce electrical contacts and non-magnetic instruments. An example is represented by copper-beryllium alloys, appreciated above all for the possibility of combining copper’s electrical conductivity and beryllium’s mechanical resistance”.
Modern sources and global significance
Today, lithium and beryllium remain relatively rare within the Earth’s crust. Lithium is commonly extracted from minerals such as spodumene and can also be sourced from brines in salt lakes. The so-called “lithium triangle” of South America – spanning Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina – holds some of the richest deposits, though significant reserves are also found in Australia and China. Beryllium, meanwhile, is primarily obtained from minerals such as beryl and chrysoberyl, with notable deposits in the United States, Brazil, and Kazakhstan.
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