Urna Semper

Instructor’s Name
September 22, y

Titanium
According to Force (1991) more than 90 percent of the titanium minerals currently produced
come from magmatic ilmenite deposits and from young shoreline placer deposits. This means
that the two geologic processes most directly responsible for economic titanium-mineral deposits
are (1) the accumulation of dense oxide-rich liquids immiscible in cooling magmas of
ferrodioritic to gabbroic composition, and (2) the interference between deposition and
entrainment in the enrichment of dense minerals on the upper swash zones of beaches (and
removal of some concentrates to eolian environments). Both processes are essentially
mechanical; i.e., chemical remobilization of titanium does not form its major ore deposits.

Both processes also require precursor conditions that ensure that titanium is present
predominantly in the form of oxide minerals. In magmatic deposits, these are physical and
chemical conditions that favor titanium-oxide over titanium-silicate minerals. In sedimentary
deposits, these conditions are a combination of proper source rocks, weathering history, and
sedimentary conduits, all necessary to permit the supply of favorable minerals and prevent their
dilution with unfavorable ones.

Some titanium-mineral production currently comes from fluvial placer deposits (Gbangbama,
Sierra Leone) and from deeply weathered alkalic pyroxenites (Tapira, Brazil). In addition,
several other deposit types could well become economic in the near future: rutile from eclogites,
rutile from contact-metasomatic zones of alkalic anorthosites, perovskite from alkalic
pyroxenites, and rutile byproduct from porphyry Cu-Mo deposits; detrital titanium-mineral
deposits could be exploited on continental shelves, in Pleistocene glaciolacustrine deltas, or in
older, semiindurated beach deposits. If young shoreline placers are depleted, these other deposit
types may become important.

GEOLOGY 101 REPORT 1

Titanium minerals are mined from hard crystalline rocks, weathered rocks, and unconsolidated
sediments. At present, shoreline placer deposits supply more than half the titanium minerals
mined worldwide. These deposits supply rutile and variably altered ilmenite. Most of the
remainder is supplied by magmatic ilmenite deposits from rocks of the anorthosite-ferrodiorite
suite, which supply unaltered ilmenite. A fluvial placer deposit produces rutile, and a deposit in
the weathered mantle on alkalic igneous rock has started producing anatase.

References

• Eric R. Force, 1991. "Geology of Titanium-Mineral Deposits", Geology of Titanium-

Mineral Deposits, Eric R. Force.

GEOLOGY 101 REPORT 2