The extraction of vanadium and titanium from Taranaki ironsade

Abstract

GENERAL: Ironsand, collected from the beach and dunes at Patea, has been examined microscopically by Hitton (1) who reported that all his samples contained iron ore (in the form of magnetite FeO, Fe2.O3), pyroxenes, plagioclase and hornblendes, and that in most casee quartz, zircon, apatite and garnet were also present in minor quantities. Analyses of the Patsa sands by Donovan (2) show that the iron content varies considerably. The average amount of metallic iron appears to be approximately 35% of the sand. This percentage rises to about 55 - 57% in certain beach deposits which have been mechanically concentrated by the action of the tides, and drops to approximately 20% in some samples from the dunes. In addition, the analyses show the presence of from about 4 to 10% of titanium dioxide, and of from 0.08 to 0.16% of vanadium metal, the samples richer in iron containing the greater quantities of titanium dioxids and vanadium. By magnetic separatory methods, the iron ore in the lower grade sands can be concentrated in a magnetic fraction which is similar in constitution to the high grade sands. Beyond this point, the problem of the economic utilisation of the sand must embrace, not only the production of iron, but lines the recovery of the titanium and vanadium. Two main lines of attack are available. The ironsand can be worked for its iron content, and the titanium and vanadium recovered from the slags and residues obtained in producing and refining the iron; or the sand can be worked in the first place for its titanium and vanadium, and then for its iron. In the latter case it would be extremely advantageous to be able to obtain the residue from the extraction of titanium and vanadium in a more suitable form for iron production than the native sand.