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. 

Heavy Mineral Mining Around the World

Heavy minerals are found on the surface of the earth in many parts of the world. Particularly in countries like U.S., South Africa, Australia, India, Sri Lanka and Canada. They are called heavy minerals because their specific gravity is higher than other elements found on the surface of earth. 

They are economically very beneficial as they are useful in many industrial applications. Because of their higher specific gravity, they tend to mount up at coastal belts of rivers and beaches in the form of placer deposits. Major minerals that come in the heavy minerals category include Zircon, Garnet, Rutile, Ilmenite, Leuocoxene, and Titanium. The wave actions deposits the minerals on the surface of sand, and these can be extracted through the process of mining.

Once the mining process is complete the minerals can be isolated from the sand using various separation processes like dry gravity separation or magnetic separation and others. The current heavy mineral industry around the world has shown prosperity in places like Murray Basin, Golden Grove and Kangaroo Island in South Australia. India is also well known in the heavy mineral mining industry. 

One of the premier companies that indulge in heavy mineral mining is V.V. Mineral. They are India’s biggest mining, manufacturers and exporters of Garnet. They have been awarded as the ‘Number One Garnet Exporters’ of our country. They also undertake Zircon mining, Rutile mining and Ilmenite mining.

India has abundant reserves in places such as Gulf of Mannar, Kanyakumari, Tuticorin and Kerala. In South Africa, places with great deposits of heavy minerals include, Imperri Hills, Madagascar. Quebec in Canada is also has plentiful of these mineral deposits. 

Difference Between Minerals and Ores

Inside the Earth’s core, due to heat, pressure and other chemical reactions different elements like gems and metals tend to crystallize. Over thousands of years of cooling, these elements are mixed together and form larger crystals which can be extracted through the process of mining and used for various purposes such as jewellery and other industrial uses. 

A Mineral is the original form in which gems and metal and other impurities exists, whereas ores can be defined as a mineral from which the metal can be extracted for economic benefit. All ores are minerals but all minerals are not necessarily ores.

Minerals are found in the natural environment, for example on the surface of beach sands or underground.  And ores contain minerals in form of rocks. Ores are more of economic benefits, but minerals are more of scientific benefits. An ore is a mineral that has metal in large quantity; the quantity should be enough to be worth mining. It is a rock that contains minerals. 

Often, two or more metals can be extracted from the same ore. They are mixed with other valueless gangue as well. Ores are crystalline solids that form rocks. 

One of the premier companies that indulge in heavy mineral mining is V.V. Mineral. They are India’s biggest mining, manufacturers and exporters of Garnet. They have been awarded as the ‘Number One Garnet Exporters’ of our country. They also undertake Zircon mining, Rutile mining and Ilmenite mining.