Лако-красочные материалы — производство

Rutile is formed primarily by the crystallization of magma with high titanium and low iron contents, or by the metamorphosis of titanium-bearing sediments or mag — matites. The rutile concentrations in primary rocks are too low for commercial use, therefore, only sands in which rutile is accompanied by zircon and/or ilmenite and other heavy minerals can be regarded as reserves. The world reserves of rutile are estimated to be 45 x106 t [2.4].

As in the case of ilmenite, the largest producers are in Australia, the Republic of South Africa, and Sierra Leone. There is not enough natural rutile to meet demand, and it is therefore gradually being replaced by the synthetic variety. In 2000 the

worldwide production of rutile was about 390,000 t (as TiO2). Compositions of some rutile concentrates are given in Table 2.6.