Titanium

Titanium is a silvery-grey metal with a remarkable strength-to-weight ratio and excellent corrosion resistance. Pure titanium is highly ductile and has low conductivity, which means that it is frequently used in aerospace and military applications, as well as to produce medical prostheses and dental implants. The vast majority of titanium is refined into titanium dioxide (TiO2) and is most commonly alloyed with iron, molybdenum and vanadium, particularly in steel manufacture, and with aluminium to produce gamma titanium aluminides.  Titanium dioxide can be used for industrial and chemical applications such as manufacturing paper, pigments, plastics and personal care products.

Titanium-containing minerals are widely distributed in the Earth’s crust and titanium is primarily derived from ilmenite and rutile ores, with more than 90% of global titanium supply being derived from ilmenite reserves. China is the world’s leading producer of TiO2-containing mineral concentrates, accounting for 36% of global production from ilmenite and rutile, followed by Mozambique (13%) and South Africa (10%). Significant ilmenite reserves can be found in China, Australia, India, Mozambique, Norway, Canada, and South Africa, with major reserves of rutile located in the United States, Australia, and South Africa.