3.5.1.1Reserves and Resources   

By the end of 1998, the world's reserves and reserve base of rutile (including anatase) had been 30 million and 170 million tons respectively and the total resources 230 million tons (referring to TiO2 content hereinafter), which are distributed concentratedly in South Africa, India, Sri Lanka, Australia and Sierra Leone. The reserves and reserve base of ilmenite (TiO2) are 270 million and 440 million tons respectively and the total resources about 1 billion tons, distributed mainly in South Africa, Norway, Australia, Canada and India.     

By the end of 1998, the retained reserves of primary ilmenite (titanomagnetite) of China had been 351.9585 million tons (in terms of TiO2), of which the reserves of categories A+B+C were 198.7141 million tons; the mineral reserves of ilmenite (placers) had been 39.6861 million tons (22.4371 million tons of categories A+B+C) and those of rutile 2.7634 million tons (758,600 tons of categories A+B+C); the reserves of TiO2 of rutile had been 9.6557 million tons (2,990,300 tons of category A+B+C).  

Assuming the content of TiO2 to be 48%, the retained mineral reserves of placer ilmenite of categories A+B+C in 1998, i.e. 22.4173 million tons, can be converted to 10.7698 million tons of TiO2, constituting only 3.99% of the world's ilmenite (TiO2) reserves. However, if the 99.3571 million tons of usable granular ilmenite (TiO2) which makes up about 50% of the primary ilmenite (TiO2) reserves of categories A+B+C (198.7147 million tons) is added to the above figure, the total TiO2 reserves will be 110.1269 million tons, accounting for 40.79% of the world's ilmenite (TiO2) reserves of the same year, i.e. 270 million tons. In this sense, China is the most rich country in ilmenite resources.     

When the above calculation is applied to the case of rutile of 1998, that is, the content of TiO2 is 94%; retained reserves of A+B+C categories, 756,800 tons; converted TiO2 reserves, 711,400 tons; and rutile (TiO2) reserves of A+B+C categories, 2.4244 million tons, then the total reserves will be 3.1358 million tons, which amounts to 10.45% of the world's rutile (TiO2) reserves (30 million tons). This suggests that China is not very abundant in rutile resources.

3.5.1.2 Characteristics

The titanium resources are distributed in 152 mineral districts of 21 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) in China. The first to mention is Sichuan Province while other localities are in Hebei, Hainan, Guangdong, Hubei, Guangxi, Shaanxi, Henan and Shandong (Fig. 3.5.1 and Table 3.5.1).

Primary titanomagnetite: The deposits are mainly distributed in Sichuan (e.g. Panzhihua, Hongge, Baima of Miyi, and Taihe of Xichang), Hebei (Damiao and Heishan of Chengde, Zhaobinggou of Fengning, and Nantianmen of Chongli); Shanxi (Tongyu in Zuoquan), Shaanxi (Bijigou of Yangxian), Xinjiang (Weiya), Henan (Zhao'anzhuang of Wuyang), Guangdong (Xiafeng of Xingning), Heilongjiang (Huma), and Beijing (Shangzhuang of Changping and Xindi of Huairou). The balance reserves of Sichuan Province (TiO2 329.8688 million tons) make up 93% of the national total (TiO2 351.9585 million tons); those of Hebei Province (TiO2 14.8827 million tons) are 4.2%; and 0.61% and 0.46% for Shaanxi and Shanxi respectively.

Primary rutile ore: The deposits are chiefly distributed in Hubei (Dafushan of Zaoyang); Shanxi (Nianzigou of Daixian), Henan (Yangchong of Xinxian), and Shandong (Liujiazhuang of Laixi). The balance (commercial) reserves (TiO2) of Hubei Province (5.3443 million tons) account for 71.2% of the national total (7.5086 million tons); those of Shanxi (1.5479 million tons), 20.6%; and 5.9% for Shaanxi Province (444,000 tons).

Ilmenite placers: Most of such deposits are distributed in Hainan (Baoding, Chang'an and Xinglong of Wanning, Shalao and Nangang of Qionghai, Wushi-Gangpo and Wanzhoupo of Lingshui, and Puqian of Wenchang), Guangxi (Dongsheng and Sanjirang of Tengxian), Guangdong (Pingding of Huazhou), Yunnan (Banqiao of Baoshan), Jiangxi (Chebu and Chishui of Dingnan), Hunan (Xinqianghe of Yueyang and Sanlangyan of Huarong), and Shaanxi (Yuehe Hengkou and Datong of Ankang). The balance reserves of ilmenite of Hainan Province (12.7582 million tons) amount to 32.2% of the national total (39.6861 million tons); those of Yunnan (10.8830 million tons), 27.4%; those of Guangdong (6.1604 million tons), 15.5%; and 18.0% for Guangxi (7.1416 million tons) and 3.0% for Jiangxi (1.1795 million tons).

Rutile placers: Deposits are mainly distributed in Henan (Bamiaozigou of Shanxian), Shandong (Liujiazhuang of Laixi and Shangcuijiagou of Zhucheng), Hubei (Dafushan of Zaoyang), Hunan (Wangxiang of Xiangyin, Xinqianghe of  Yueyang and Sanlangyan of Huarong), Anhui (Huangpugujing of Qianshan), and Hainan (Baoding of Wanning).The balance reserves of rutile of Henan Province (2.3792 million tons) make up 86.1% of the national total (2.7634 million tons); those of Shandong (176,800 tons), 6.4%; those of Hubei (92,400 tons) and Hunan (69,900 tons), 3.3% and 2.5% respectively; and 1.06% for Anhui and 0.54% for Hainan.

In terms of industrial ore types, titanium resources in China are basically primary vanadic titanomagnetite, whose TiO2 reserves are 351.9585 million tons, covering 92.35% of the total titanium resources (381.1140 million tons); the less important ones are exogenetic ilmenite placers (TiO2 reserves: 19.0493 million tons), 5.00% of the total, followed by primary rutile ore (7.5086 million tons), 1.97%, and rutile placers (2.5976 million tons), 0.68%.     

In terms of distribution, the titanium resources of China are concentratedly distributed: vanadic titanomagnetite in Sichuan (Panxi area) and northern Hebei; ilmenite placer in the Hainan Island, Yunnan, Guangxi and Guangdong; rutile ore in Hubei and Shanxi; and rutile placer in Henan and Shandong.