Ⅰ. Titanium and nickel ores

Titanium ore

Titanium is the fourth most abundant structural metal on Earth, after aluminum, iron and magnesium. Mineral deposits can be found all over the world, including Australia, the United States, Canada and other countries.^[1]

The main minerals are rutile, which contains about 95% titanium dioxide (TiO2), and ilmenite (FeTiO3), which contains 50% to 65% TiO2. The third mineral, sparry pyroxene, is an alteration of ilmenite, where a portion of the iron is naturally leached. It has no specific titanium content. Titanium minerals are found in alluvial and volcanic strata. Deposits typically contain 3% to 12% heavy minerals, including ilmenite, rutile, sparroxene, zircon and monazite.^[1]

Figure 12. Titanium ores[2]

Nickel ore

Nickel is one of the most abundant metals on Earth and is found in deposits in Canada, Russia, Australia and other countries.^[3]

The main minerals of nickel ore are nickel sulfide ore and nickel oxide ore. Nickel sulfide ores such as nickelpyrite (NiS) and nickelite ((Fe,Ni)9S8) contain a high nickel content. Nickel oxide ores such as Laterite and nickel chromite (NiFe2O4) contain oxides of nickel and other elements.^[3]

Figure 13. Nickel ore[4]

Processing Route

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