The Importance Of Titanium, By Vaikundarajan

Vaikundarajan, the founder of VV Minerals says that titanium is a very important mineral, owing to its weight which is both strong and light at the same time. The metal is as tough as steel and twice as strong as aluminum. Yet, it is 45% lighter than steel. Neither those the metal easily corrode when in sea water. No wonder, it is used in propeller shafts, rigging and other parts of boats that are exposed to sea water.

Titanium is widely used as a pigment in paint, in paper, and in plastics. With the metals duality, it is no surprise that most aircraft parts are made from it. It is also used in military applications, aircraft, spacecraft, medical devices, connecting rods on expensive sports cars and some premium. These are used in these industries specifically because her low weight and resistance to high temperatures are important.

Humans, with loss of limbs, also use titanium. As the metal does not react within the human body, it is also used for pins of setting bones and for other biological implants. Ilmenite and Rutile are the most important sources of titanium and contribute to about 90% of Titanium production in a year at VV Minerals, India.

VV Mineral  is a family grown business started by Mr. S Vaikundarajan, Founder, Chairman & Managing Director, VV Group. They undertake Zircon mining, Rutile mining and Ilmenite mining. They are based in the southern state Tamil Nadu in India. By industry standards they are the leaders in the heavy mineral mining industry.

How Heavy Minerals are Bought and Sold

Heavy minerals are found on the beach sands of sea shores. They accumulate on the shores in the form of placer deposits. They are extracted using beach sand mining. The heavy mineral mining process includes the extraction of sand, which is then transported to the separation plants. The sand particles are separated from the mineral content, and the waste sand is then put back in areas from where it was mined. 

The different separated heavy minerals are then packed and transported to dispatch it to different locations. In India, heavy mineral mining takes place mostly in the southern coast of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. V.V. Mineral is one of the leading manufacturers, miners and exporters of heavy minerals. The products are bought in bulk that needs to be exported. 

Just like any other product, demand and supply decides the price or market for the heavy minerals. Each mineral has a different use. Garnet which is an abrasive material has a worldwide market. Ilmenite, titanium feed stock has different buyers. Other minerals like rutile and zircon too have different uses and different market.

V.V. Mineral serves to domestic as well as international market. They have significant market share in Europe, Middle East, East Asia, Australia and USA.