I think it is important to notice the number here (2) is the atomic number.  It is the first member of the column labeled VIII; this group is known as the noble gases.  Reading the periodic table from left to right, the numbers go in order across the rows and return, one row later, on the left to continue.  Helium, on the extreme top right, is indeed element #2.  It is also a gas and in terms of the universe accounts for 23% of the mass.  This seems to leave us at a standstill, what with hydrogen being 76% and helium at 23% we have only 1% left.  The earth, of course, does not reflect the composition of the universe.  The presence on earth of the Big Eight is clearly in sharp contrast. The earth has about 5 parts per billion of helium in the atmosphere.  We find helium is the 71st most abundant of the 92 elements according to Emsley; in other words rather rare. HCP data, above suggests it is 74th but at that level, we have next to nothing either way.  Bear in mind that it is the second most common noble gas. 

 

What can be said about minerals?  Essentially there is not much to tell but there are reports of beryl with helium present in the interstitial areas.  Sinkankas, 1981, notes helium in beryl; one studied piece was collected at Acworth, New Hampshire prior to 1908.  Lord Rayleigh, 1933, found helium in beryl at Balingup in Western Australia.  Helium and argon have been reported in uraninite as in Gaines et al, 1997.  Dietrich, 1985, reported helium traces in schorl.  DHZ, 1998, indicates helium is present in a monazite from Norway. Emsley, 2001, said “helium is present in some minerals”. Additional sources indicate helium has been found in cordierite, diamond, halite, hematite, kaersutite, thorianite and tourmaline.  So, this is nothing new certainly but it may be a real surprise to some mineral collectors. 

 

The prospect of having a mineral to represent helium still seems like it might be a real problem.  A sample can be displayed but you might be challenged to prove it has helium despite the alpha particles due to decay noted for Th and U rich minerals. 

 

The first period, with only two elements, could not have a pair of members that are more different.  In mineral terms, we go from 3,018 species for hydrogen to none for helium!