Statistics and Information: Titanium occurs primarily in the minerals anatase, brookite, ilmenite, leucoxene, perovskite, rutile, and sphene. Of these minerals, only ilmenite, leucoxene, and rutile have significant economic importance.As a metal, titanium is well known for corrosion resistance and for its high strength-to-weight ratio.Approximately 95% of titanium is consumed in the form of titanium dioxide (TiO2), a white pigment in paints, paper, and plastics.TiO2 pigment is characterized by its purity, refractive index, particle size, and surface properties.To develop optimum pigment properties, the particle size is controlled within the range of about 0.2 to 0.4 micrometer.The superiority of TiO2 as a white pigment is due mainly to its high refractive index and resulting light-scattering ability, which impart excellent hiding power and brightness.

Events, Trends, and Issues: U.S. domestic consumption of titanium mineral concentrates was estimated to have decreased moderately. While mining continued at Starke, FL, and Stony Creek, VA, mining operations at Green Cove Springs, FL, were limited to reprocessing of tailings to recover zircon. At the Stony Creek mining operation, development of the Brink deposit, located 48 kilometers south of the Old Hickory Mine, was proceeding, and production was expected to begin in the second quarter of 2009.

Global production of titanium mineral concentrates was estimated to have decreased slightly compared with that of 2007. In Vietnam, new government policies were being implemented to cease ilmenite exports, control illegal mining, and promote the development of upgraded products. In Sierra Leone, a dredge capsized, removing about 100,000 tons per year of natural rutile production capacity. In South Africa, production was hindered by mineral processing difficulties, power supply issues, and a water ingress at a slag furnace. New mining projects were being developed in Australia, Canada, Chile, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Senegal, and South Africa.

World Mine Production, Reserves, and Reserve Base: Reserve base estimate for Australia was revised based on new information derived from government and industry reports.

World Resources: Ilmenite supplies about 92% of the world’s demand for titanium minerals. World resources of anatase, ilmenite, and rutile total more than 2 billion tons.

Substitutes: Ilmenite, leucoxene, rutile, slag, and synthetic rutile compete as feedstock sources for producing TiOpigment, titanium metal, and welding-rod coatings.

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