Ilmenite is a common mineral mainly found in igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks, and sediments in many parts of the world. Ilmenite is used as the major source of titanium. It is an important and the most abundant ore mineral of titanium. Most of the ilmenite mined across the world is used to manufacture titanium dioxide, an important pigment, whiting, and polishing abrasive. It is mined in Brazil, Australia, Russia, Sri Lanka, Canada, Norway, South Africa, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Sierra Leone, China, and the United States.
Ilmenite is the main source of titanium dioxide, which is used in printing inks, paints, fabrics, paper, plastics, food, sunscreen, and cosmetics. It is extensively used in the production of white titanium dioxide pigment, and all types of white-walled tires, white/pastels shades of paints, printed fabrics, glazed papers, and flooring materials. Therefore, with the increasing demand for plastics, paper, coatings, paints, sunscreen, food, and cosmetics, the demand for ilmenite is also increasing around the world.
Ilmenite is a pure iron-ore mineral and has been found to be one of the strongest minerals present in the Earth. Because of its properties, it has been used in the manufacturing of metal alloys for centuries and because of its capability to promote weight loss, the government has listed it as a substance that needs to be approved for use as a foodstuff. Ilmenite and rutile are the two chief minerals of titanium. Rutile is used to produce corrosion-resistant, strong, light titanium metal for use in motor vehicles, spacecraft, aircraft, and desalination plants.
Ilmenite is used as a fluxing agent in blast furnace feeds and as a sand-blasting abrasive. It can be used in small amounts to produce dark brown specks in bodies and specialized glazes. About 5% of the ilmenite mined is utilized to create titanium metal. It is an important alloying agent mainly used in spacecraft, aircraft, and missiles due to its low density and ability to withstand extremes of temperature.