There is some confusion around what is classified as a mineral sand and what is considered a rare earth. Australia has an abundance of both however rare earths is hard to produce and much of the mineral sands reserves are located in national parks and other environmentally sensitive areas not gazetted for mining. What are mineral sands? Mineral sands contain concentrations of the important minerals, rutile, ilmenite, zircon and monazite. In Australia, the three main minerals mined from mineral sands deposits are ilmenite, rutile and zircon. Zircon is used in industrial and chemical applications including the manufacture of ceramics and refractories. Titanium is also used for industry and chemicals but also for making titanium dioxide pigments. Australia is the largest producer of titanium, rutile and zirconium in the world. Production rates of the minerals depend largely on the increase and decrease of demand often linked to global recession and prosperity. What are rare