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Titanium
Titanium minerals are used mainly:
a) in the pigment industry, to produce a pure oxide white
pigment, widely used in paints, papers and polymers (85% of
world consumption in terms of TiO2 content);
b) for the manufacture of welding rods, chemical compounds,
fibreglass and ceramics (10%);
c) in the titanium metal industry for use in commercial and
military aircraft.
Production of Titanium Minerals
Tonnes
| |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
| Europe |
|
|
|
|
| Norway |
|
|
|
|
| limenite |
279.623 |
690.900 |
777.000 |
837.000 |
| Urkaine |
|
|
|
|
| limenite |
536.542 |
576.749 |
– |
– |
| Rutile |
110.951 |
132.517 |
– |
– |
| Africa |
|
|
|
|
| Egypt |
|
|
|
|
| limenite (b) |
– |
66.000 |
66.000 |
69.000 |
| South
Africa |
|
|
|
|
| limenite |
1.870.000 |
1.853.000 |
1.751.000 |
1.649.000 |
| Rutile |
123.000 |
123.000 |
122.000 |
140.000 |
| America |
|
|
|
|
| Brazil |
|
|
|
|
| limenite |
234.209 |
284.983 |
– |
– |
| Rutile |
3.388 |
3.139 |
1.791 |
2.645 |
| Canada |
|
|
|
|
| limenite (a)(b) |
2.500.000 |
2.400.000 |
2.700.000 |
2.400.000 |
| USA |
600.000 |
600.000 |
600.000 |
600.000 |
| Asia |
|
|
|
|
| China |
|
|
|
|
| limenite |
57.708 |
116.200 |
120.843 |
– |
| India |
|
|
|
|
| limenite (c) |
387.756 |
429.707 |
433.658 |
500.000 |
| Rutile (c) |
17.471 |
18.974 |
17.402 |
– |
| Republic of Korea |
|
|
|
|
| limenite |
2.003.413 |
168.664 |
161.988 |
142.726 |
| Malaysia |
|
|
|
|
| limenite |
127.695 |
124.801 |
129.750 |
106.198 |
| Rutile |
– |
– |
– |
– |
| Vietnam |
|
|
|
|
| limenite |
120.000 |
130.000 |
170.000 |
170.000 |
| Oceania |
|
|
|
|
| Australia |
|
|
|
|
| limenite |
1.936.000 |
2.146.000 |
2.027.000 |
1.912.000 |
| Rutile |
179.000 |
207.000 |
203.000 |
218.000 |
| Leucoxene |
33.000 |
37.000 |
30.000 |
38.000 |
| World/total |
|
|
|
|
| limenite
(wt of concs) |
9.200.000 |
9.600.000 |
9.800.000 |
9.400.000 |
| Rutile
(wt of concs) |
434.000 |
485.000 |
477.000 |
518.000 |
| All
forms (TiO2 content) |
4.700.000 |
4.900.000 |
5.000.000 |
4.900.000 |
Notes:
(1) The figures in this table refer to gross tonnage of
titanium concentrates
(2) Some limenite is converted to synthetic rutile in Australia,
India, Japan, Taiwan and USA
(a) Canada produces
some limenite which is sold as such and not processed into slag,
but tonnages are small
(b) Processed into slag.
In 2002 South Africa produces an estimated 970.000 tonnes (85%
TiO2) and Canada produced 869.000 tonnes (80-95% TiO2)
(c)
Years ended 31 March following that stated
Source : British Geological Survey, Wolrd Mineral
Statistics 1998-2002, p. 276
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