What are Mineral Sands?

Mineral sands are important in the manufacture of industrial and chemicals applications. Australia is one of the world’s largest producers of mineral sands. But what exactly are they and how did mother nature create them all those years ago?

Formation of mineral sands

Most mineral sands began life as crystals in igneous or metamorphic rocks. Over time the rocks weathered and eroded the grains of quartz and minerals like rutile zircon, ilmenite and monazite were washed into the ocean by rainfall and streams. The minerals were carried on to the beach by the wave action. The wind blew away the lighter quartz sand leaving large deposits of mineral sands on the beach.

As sea levels changed, shorelines move further inland sometimes many kilometres from what is now the shore. More sand has covered mineral sands deposits, so some have been found 50 metres below the surface. Belts of heavy minerals are called strand lines. It is thought that the mineral sands being mined today are over 1.8 million years.

Heavy minerals in minerals sands have a density of between 4 and 5.5 compared to common sand minerals with a density of around 2.65.

How Mineral Sands’ Deposits are Found

Mineral sands’ deposits in Australia can either be close or well below the surface. The distance determines which sands have already been discovered and those that are yet to be discovered. It is believed that only 15% of outcrop minerals sands where the dark sand can be seen on the ground’s surface is left to be found in Australia. There are still large deposits of minerals sands waiting to be discovered under a thick layer of soil. Favourable geological conditions have assisted mining exploration companies to find mineral sands deposits.

Mineral processing and material handling:

Are you looking for more information on mineral processing and material handling for your business, we advise you to have a chat with an expert or an agency for more details.

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