A New Process to Upgrade Low-Grade TiO2 Feeds to High-Grade Synthetic Rutile

Fouad Kamaleddine, PhD, P.Eng, VP R&D, Fancamp Exploration Ltd.

Low-grade Ilmenite occurs as massive deposits in the Quebec Province in Canada, many of which have been considered unsuitable for processing and development because of their high iron content and low grade (under 20% TiO2). Originally designed for the Magpie deposits in Eastern Quebec, a newly developed hydrometallurgical process called the Magpie process is introduced, which enables to produce high-grade synthetic rutile (over 98% TiO2) from low grade ilmenite. Naturally, if such process is applied to low-grade ore it can be applied with advantage to high grade material. The process is cost-effective with nominal environmental impacts.

Laboratory bench and pilot tests have been conducted on various feeds ranging in grade from 20−50% TiO2, in addition to slag (waste) samples grading 27% TiO2, producing rutile products grading 98-99% TiO2. Efforts are underway to build a demo-plant in Quebec at the rate of 2-5 tons per day using various feeds including ores, tailings, and slags.