Question

your assignment
red beryl is one of the rarest minerals in the world.
because it is so rare, red beryl is about 1,000 times more
valuable than gold. read the passage that describes how
red beryl forms. then use the information to draw an
inference about why red beryl has been found in only
four places on earth.

it takes several steps for red beryl to form. first, a volcano with lava rich in topaz rhyolite erupts.
volcanoes with this type of lava have been found only in the united states, mexico, russia, and
mongolia. if the lava cools at just the right speed — not too quickly and not too slowly — it will shrink
and form large gaps. the gaps fill with hot volcanic gases rich in beryllium, a rare element. over time,
surface water seeps into the cracks and reacts with the gases, forming red beryl crystals.

Explanation:

To infer why red beryl is found in only four places, we analyze its formation process. Red beryl forms when a volcano with topaz - rhyolite - rich lava erupts, the lava cools at the right speed to form gaps, the gaps fill with beryllium - rich volcanic gases, and surface water reacts with these gases. Volcanoes with this specific lava (topaz rhyolite - rich) are only found in the US, Mexico, Russia, and Mongolia. Also, the cooling speed of lava and the presence of beryllium - rich gases and surface water need to align perfectly. Since the required volcanic activity (specific lava - type volcanoes) is limited to these four regions and the other formation conditions (cooling speed, gas - water reaction) must also be met there, red beryl is found in only four places.

Answer:

Red beryl forms only where volcanoes with topaz - rhyolite - rich lava (found in 4 regions: US, Mexico, Russia, Mongolia) erupt, lava cools at the right speed to form gaps, beryllium - rich gases fill gaps, and surface water reacts with gases. The limited occurrence of these specific volcanoes and the need for all formation conditions to align in the same area means red beryl is found in only four places.