In recent years, a series of rare metal occurrences including beryllium, niobium and tantalum deposits such as Jinbaoliang and Wuyunuoer have been discovered in the northern belt of the Beishan Mountains, Gansu Province, indicating favorable metallogenic conditions and great prospecting potential for rare metals in this region. However, the research level on rare metal deposits in this area remains relatively low, and systematic studies on the elemental geochemical variation laws during the enrichment and mineralization of rare metals are particularly lacking. Based on detailed field geological surveys and comprehensive indoor analyses, this study systematically investigates the elemental geochemical characteristics of monzogranite beryllium ore and its surrounding rocks, as well as granite porphyry beryllium ore and its surrounding rocks with varying mineralization degrees in the Jinbaoliang beryllium mining area. Regular variations of elements including Si, Al, Ti, Nb, Ta, Rb, Li, Cs, Zr, Hf and REE are identified during beryllium enrichment and mineralization, and effective elemental geochemical indicators for beryllium mineralization are summarized. Significant differences in elemental geochemical characteristics are recognized between the two types of granite-type beryllium deposits, suggesting that they are not products of a single-stage magmatic fractional crystallization, and verifying the existence of two-stage and two-type granite beryllium mineralization in the study area. Furthermore, the elemental geochemical features of Jinbaoliang granite-type beryllium deposits differ markedly from those of typical highly fractionated granite-type beryllium deposits, implying the potential occurrence of highly fractionated granites with high rare metal grades in the study area. The results provide new insights and directions for the prospecting of rare metal resources such as beryllium in the Jinbaoliang area, and offer a theoretical basis for metallogenic research and exploration of rare metals in the northern Beishan belt.