Rare Earth Minerals and its usage

A mineral that contains one or more rare earth elements as major metal constituents is known as Rare Earth Mineral or Rare Earth Elements (REE). These elements are a set of seventeen chemical elements. These rare earth elements occur together in the periodic table. These minerals are found in the earth’s crust and are extensively used in consumer products.

These minerals are further categorized into two types :

1. Light Rare Earth Minerals and

2. Heavy Rare Earth Minerals.

In India, VV Mineral is one of amongst the largest Manufacturer and Exporter of Garnet & Ilmenite. Globally, VV Mineral is poised to rise to the number one position. VV Mineral is the first private Ilmenite Exporter in India.

These minerals are used in manufacturing various consumer products i.e. Electronic Devices, Clean Technologies, Defence, Advanced Communications and Healthcare. Rare earth elements are crucial to maintaining our current lifestyle and economy as well as build a strong and sustainable future. 

Refer the infographic below for further details : 

V. V. Minerals Expands Operations To Odisha

V. V. Minerals is planning for excavation and refining of the mineral in Odisha. The investment of this project is estimated to be around Rs 100 crores.

V. V. Minerals is a Tamil Nadu-based mining firm having largest market share in ilmenite production and exports, and one of the largest Indian companies in the sand mining business.

“We are planning to apply for 2-3 areas in Odisha for excavating ilmenite and garnet. We will also invest Rs 75 crore to 100 crore for establishing a mineral refining plant in the state,” said V Subramaniun, director of the firm. VVM is the first private exporter of ilmenite and is the leading manufacturer and exporter of the mineral.

 “Production of ilmenite has been slow in India due to tough regulations and limited awareness about it. The government must change its position on the mineral,” added Subramaniun.

“Along with the tough regulations, the processing of lease grant should be made faster if we want to tap its potential because apart from exports, the mineral will be in huge demand from domestic market in future,” said the V. V. Mineral official.

Ilmenite is upgraded to titanium dioxide to be used in consumer goods like paper, plastic, paint colour and cosmetic industries such as sunscreen. The proposal of V. V. Minerals is strategically important as Kolkata-based Saraf Agencies Private Ltd (SAPL) is constructing a titanium slag plant near Gopalpur with an investment of Rs 250 crore. These plants use ilmenite as feedstock.      

How Heavy Mineral Mining began in India

India has a coastline of more than 6000 kilometers and is abundantly rich in various minerals. In 1909, a German chemist, Schomberg discovered heavy mineral deposits in Manavalakurichi in the then state of Travancore which is presently known as Tamil Nadu. These deposits proved to be economically more beneficial compared to other minerals. In the beginning the mining was carried out just for the mineral, Monazite. 

During the First World War the British realized that this was a good trade resource and seized the operations of the German chemist and deported him.  By then they recognized other minerals in the sands which were of economic benefit.  In the early 1920s minerals were transported across borders and by the 1940’s India began contributing to about 80% of world production of these minerals.

Hence, it can be state that India was leading the heavy mineral markets long before US, Canada, Australia and Africa.  However, today India faces a lot of challenges in the heavy mineral market share. 

Heavy mineral mining is done in various parts of India, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The kinds of minerals found on the Indian shores include, zircon, rutile, ilmenite, garnet and other titanium dioxide products. Zircon is used in ceramics and is the most abundantly found mineral. Garnet is used in water jet cutting and sand blasting. Rutile and ilmenite is mostly used in the production of titanium. 

One of the most renowned mining companies of India includes V.V. Mineral, which is based in Tamil Nadu. V.V. Mineral engages in mining activity of minerals such as Zircon, Garnet, Ilmenite and Rutile. They are Indias largest mining manufacturer and exporters of Garnet.