XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 2099
re-cast into the end-member molar components almandine
(Alm -Fe), pyrope (Pyr -Mg), spessartine (Spe -Mn) and
grossular (Gro -Ca). Based on all measured garnet compo-
sitions the average composition was almandine-rich (i.e.,
Fe-rich) with the following calculated average formula:
Alm68Pyr13Gro13Spe6.
IMPLICATIONS FOR GENERATING
COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS
Ilmenite product
Ilmenite is the principal feedstock for titanium dioxide
pigment production. Titanium pigments are used for the
manufacture of paints, coatings, and plastics, as well as in
a range of other applications including inks, fibres, rubber,
food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Titanium dioxide
products are also used in specialist applications including
welding electrodes and the production of titanium metal
used in commercial aerospace, military, and industrial
applications.
There are two industrial processes currently in com-
mercial use for the processing of ilmenite used in the
manufacture of TiO2 pigments—the sulphate process
and the chloride process. The sulphate process requires as
initial raw materials either ilmenite with a TiO2 content
of 35–65 wt% or a titanium slag with 55–70 wt% TiO2.
In comparison, the chloride process requires weathered
Table 3. Quantitative EPMA results for the Fe/Ti-rich phases in the Ilmenite, Mag. Mix and Non-mags fractions
Fraction
Element (wt.%)
Mg Al Si Ca Ti V Cr Mn Fe Nb O Total #Analyses
Ilmenite Fraction
Ilm 0.08 0.00 0.01 0.01 30.05 0.26 0.01 1.42 38.44 0.04 31.73 102.06 116
Ti-Hem
ss 0.04 0.11 0.01 0.00 7.33 0.21 0.05 0.11 63.71 0.00 23.43 94.99 31
Mags Fraction
Ilm 0.07 0.01 0.02 0.04 30.99 0.25 0.00 1.87 36.87 0.05 32.06 102.25 59
Ti-Hem
ss 0.06 0.12 0.03 0.02 7.40 0.17 0.05 0.16 63.28 0.01 23.41 94.71 23
Rutile 0.00 0.03 n.d. 0.03 57.31 0.62 0.08 0.01 1.07 1.30 39.51 99.92 5
Non-mags Fraction
Ilm 0.06 0.01 0.01 0.05 30.86 0.23 0.01 2.32 36.60 0.05 32.00 102.19 12
Ti-Hem
ss 0.02 0.06 0.01 0.02 5.21 0.15 0.02 0.10 65.96 -0.01 22.58 94.12 3
Rutile n.d. 0.13 0.05 0.03 58.99 0.58 0.03 n.d. 0.54 0.15 40.13 100.63 5
n.d. =Not determined.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Ti (wt.%)
Ilmenite
Mag mix
Non-mags
Ilmenite
Ti-Hemss
Rutile
Figure 5. Fe vs Ti scatter plot for the Fe-rich and Fe/Ti-rich phases in the Ilmenite, Mag. Mix and Non-
mags fractions
Fe
(wt.%)
re-cast into the end-member molar components almandine
(Alm -Fe), pyrope (Pyr -Mg), spessartine (Spe -Mn) and
grossular (Gro -Ca). Based on all measured garnet compo-
sitions the average composition was almandine-rich (i.e.,
Fe-rich) with the following calculated average formula:
Alm68Pyr13Gro13Spe6.
IMPLICATIONS FOR GENERATING
COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS
Ilmenite product
Ilmenite is the principal feedstock for titanium dioxide
pigment production. Titanium pigments are used for the
manufacture of paints, coatings, and plastics, as well as in
a range of other applications including inks, fibres, rubber,
food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Titanium dioxide
products are also used in specialist applications including
welding electrodes and the production of titanium metal
used in commercial aerospace, military, and industrial
applications.
There are two industrial processes currently in com-
mercial use for the processing of ilmenite used in the
manufacture of TiO2 pigments—the sulphate process
and the chloride process. The sulphate process requires as
initial raw materials either ilmenite with a TiO2 content
of 35–65 wt% or a titanium slag with 55–70 wt% TiO2.
In comparison, the chloride process requires weathered
Table 3. Quantitative EPMA results for the Fe/Ti-rich phases in the Ilmenite, Mag. Mix and Non-mags fractions
Fraction
Element (wt.%)
Mg Al Si Ca Ti V Cr Mn Fe Nb O Total #Analyses
Ilmenite Fraction
Ilm 0.08 0.00 0.01 0.01 30.05 0.26 0.01 1.42 38.44 0.04 31.73 102.06 116
Ti-Hem
ss 0.04 0.11 0.01 0.00 7.33 0.21 0.05 0.11 63.71 0.00 23.43 94.99 31
Mags Fraction
Ilm 0.07 0.01 0.02 0.04 30.99 0.25 0.00 1.87 36.87 0.05 32.06 102.25 59
Ti-Hem
ss 0.06 0.12 0.03 0.02 7.40 0.17 0.05 0.16 63.28 0.01 23.41 94.71 23
Rutile 0.00 0.03 n.d. 0.03 57.31 0.62 0.08 0.01 1.07 1.30 39.51 99.92 5
Non-mags Fraction
Ilm 0.06 0.01 0.01 0.05 30.86 0.23 0.01 2.32 36.60 0.05 32.00 102.19 12
Ti-Hem
ss 0.02 0.06 0.01 0.02 5.21 0.15 0.02 0.10 65.96 -0.01 22.58 94.12 3
Rutile n.d. 0.13 0.05 0.03 58.99 0.58 0.03 n.d. 0.54 0.15 40.13 100.63 5
n.d. =Not determined.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Ti (wt.%)
Ilmenite
Mag mix
Non-mags
Ilmenite
Ti-Hemss
Rutile
Figure 5. Fe vs Ti scatter plot for the Fe-rich and Fe/Ti-rich phases in the Ilmenite, Mag. Mix and Non-
mags fractions
Fe
(wt.%)