Specialty minerals

Ilmenite Sand

A titanium-iron oxide mineral with a crystal structure similar to those in hematite and corundum, Ilmenite sand has use cases in manufacturing, titanium dioxide production, paints and stone cutting. Ilmenite is available from GMA, contact us to discuss your requirements.

Manufacturing

Ilmenite sand is used in the manufacturing of metal components that require durability at a lighter weight.

Use cases for Ilmenite sand include the downstream manufacturing of aircraft engine parts, in sporting equipment such as bike frames, and in the medical sector for the fabrication of artificial joints.

This specialty mineral is often combined with titanium where creating a high-performance alloy is a priority. Unlike magnetite, which it closely resembles, ilmenite sand is only ever weakly magnetic.

Titanium Dioxide Production

Ilmenite sand is used in the production of titanium dioxide and its derivatives.

A primary application of this specialty mineral is in the production of synthetic rutile, a type of titanium dioxide that is highly valued for its whitening properties.

Industrial use cases include leveraging these derivatives in any product that needs a bright, white quality, including paints, papers, plastics, and toothpaste.

Lapidary and Stone Cutting

Ilmenite is used to create titanium dioxide powders that are then leveraged in lapidary work due to their precise particle sizes.

These powders provide lapidarists with a low-cost way to polish stone and can be used in everything from lapping to faceting stones.

Pyroxene

Pyroxene is a key ingredient in many blast media due it it's unique mineral properties - A natural inert mineral with medium level toughness and hardness.

Industrial uses

Pyroxene can be used in medium to light abrasive blasting applications such as precast concrete where construction, infrastructure and commercial architectural finishing is required.

Ideal for light restoration work of brick & stone, automotive bodies, as well as wood with the removal of light paints, varnish, pollutants such as dirt, soot and grime.

This substance introduces excellent sanding quality and provides customers with a cost-effective solution to abrasive blasting needs by allowing for more rapid cleaning.

Rutile

Available from GMA, rutile is used in glass and porcelain manufacturing, as a colouring agent and is a natural alternative to titanium dioxides synthetically produced from Ilmenite.

Industrial uses

Highly relevant in the commercial manufacturing space, rutile is a titanium mineral used commonly in the manufacturing of refractory ceramics, glass and porcelain.

It also serves as a pigment or colouring agent and is a natural alternative to titanium dioxides synthetically produced from Ilmenite.

Rutile also has industrial applications and is leveraged in the fabrication of copper alloys and some steels.

Rare earth minerals

GMA has a range of rare earths and precious minerals available including Hafnium (Hf), Scandium (Sc), and Monazite (Ce) among others.

Green & Eco-Friendly Technology

As the demand for green and high-end technologies increases around the world, so too does the demand for rare earths.

Rare earths serve as an essential ingredient in the production of the magnetic components that are at the heart of green eco-friendly technologies such as wind turbines and electric cars. Rare earth oxides with applications in these use cases include praseodymium, terbium, dysprosium, and neodymium.

Additional rare earth elements and precious minerals are available from GMA. These include hafnium, scandium, and monazite among others.

These minerals are essential in the manufacturing of the filaments and electrodes, semiconductor fabrication processes, and alloys like aluminum, or construction and casting.