3.5.3.1 Availability and Consumption

In 1997, the world's output of titaniferous iron ore and titanium dross (TiO2) was 3.66 million tons, increased by 1.10% compared with 1996 (3.62 million tons). Among the major production countries are Australia, South Africa, Canada, Norway, China, India and Ukraine. The output of rutile (TiO2) was 395,000 tons, the same as that of 1996. The major production countries include Australia, South Africa, Ukraine, India and China. One major product made from titaniferous iron concentrates is titanium white, the output of which was 3.5 million tons in 1997, slightly higher than that of 1996.  The US is the leading country (output: 1.33 million tons, an increase of 8.1% compared with 1.223 million tons of 1996; production value: US?2.73 billion). Japan, Germany, the UK, France, Russia, Finland and China are among other major countries. Another important product is titanium sponge. Its production was 58,000 tons in 1997, rising 9.43% compared with 1996 (53,000 tons). Other major countries include Japan (24,100 tons), the US(2,100 tons), Russia, the UK and China. Metallic titanium materials are also important products. The major producers are the US (21 million tons in 1995, a 22% increase compared with 1721 tons of 1994), Japan and Russia. With the growth of the world economy, the demand for titanium raw materials and products will be increasing accordingly. It is predicted that the demand of titanium white will be 4 million tons in 2000. The annual growth rate of the African market is 5.9% and that of the West European market is 2.2£¥~2.8%. The price of titanium raw materials and titanium white will rise remarkably with the increasing demand.

According to the Yearbook of Non-ferrous Metallic Industry of China and Annual Report on the Statistics of the Chemical Industry(1991~1997), the output of ilmenite concentrates was 194,400 tons in 1997, dropping 24.2% from 1996 (256,200 tons). The major localities of ore production include Hainan, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Sichuan (Panzhihua, 47,400 tons). The output of rutile (including artificial rutile) was 5,980 tons in 1997, decreasing 42.2% compared with 1996 (10,339 tons). Most of the rutile products are synthetic ones made form ilmenite concentrates while some were produced in mines. No exact data are available about the output of high-titanium dross of 1997. 111,500 tons of titanium white (decreased by 10.1% compared with 1996), 2,324 tons of titanium sponge (up 10.0%), 1,609 tons of other titanium materials (up 2.5%) were produced in 1997. Major producers are Zigong Dongsheng Smelter, Chongqing Dongyuan Chemical Plant, Zunyi Factory of Titanium Products, Baoji Processing Factory of Non-ferrous metals, Xiamen Electrochemical Plant, Tianjin Chemical Plant, Shanghai No.2 Smelter, Fushun Factory of Aluminum Products, Jinzhou Factory of Titanium Alloys and Xingtai Smelter of Non-ferrous metals.     

In China, more than 90% of ilmenite concentrates are used to produce titanium white and artificial rutile. Part of them are exported or used for titanium sponge, coatings of welding rods and other titanic products. In 1997, China produced 111,500 tons of titanium white and the consumption was 180,000 tons (high-quality rutile-type titanium white suffers shortage and its import is of necessity). The demand for ilmenite concentrates, titanium white and titanium sponge will be up to 800,000 tons, 210,000 tons (including 120,000 tons of high-grade titanium white) and 15,000 tons respectively in 2000. China is rich in primary titanomagnetite and ilmenite placers iron sands, which is a favorable condition for the development of the titanic industry and can fully meet the needs of the national economic construction. However, we should notice that high-grade ilmenite or rutile is not sufficient and the production of high-quality titanium white and titanium sponge falls short of the economic development, thus the import of these resources is in need.

3.5.3.2 Trends     

China is abundant in primary ilmenite (titanomegnetite) and titanium placers, but these resources are unevenly distributed. Besides, there are just small amounts of explored reserves of rutile and free-working and free-milling titaniferous iron ore and the titanium resources are predominantly low-grade vanadic titanomagnetite. Therefore, more and more ilmenite concentrates especially rutile and high-quality titanium white have been imported from overseas markets. For the titanic industry to realize all-round, coordinated, sustained and effective development, prospecting of titanium resources should be carried out based on particular metallogenic conditions and in a reasonably planned way. Focuses should be placed on shallow and rich ore deposits located in places that are easy of access. Free-working and free-milling ilmenite and especially rutile will be the first choice in the exploration.     

In China, 92.35% of the titanium resources occur in vanadic titanomegnetite deposits. In such deposits not only iron, titanium and vanadium are paragenic, but many elements can be recovered such as cobalt, nickel, copper, gallium and scandium. In order to gain considerable economic and ecological benefits, we should strengthen the comprehensive recovery of such useful elements as iron, titanium and vanadium in addition to cobalt, nickel, copper, gallium and scandium and in the meanwhile reduce as many as possible waste residues, waste gases and waste water so as to eliminate environmental pollution. Furthermore, we should pay attention to the protection of ecological environment and the stability of slopes around mining areas to avoid collapses and mud-debris flows. Recovery and reconstruction of ecological environment should be undertaken simultaneously with the development of mines.     

The aforesaid principles, regulations and requirements should be also followed or met in dealing with ecological environment protection during the exploitation and utilization of ilmenite and rutile placers. More importantly, coastal shelter-forests should be protected when mining beach placer deposits so as to avoid erosion of coastal banks and timely reclamation and reconstruction of ecological environment ought to be conducted whenever mining activity is finished.