Which minerals are the main commercial sources of titanium?

The two primary commercial minerals used as sources of titanium are ilmenite and rutile.12

• Ilmenite (FeTiO₃): An iron-black, metallic oxide mineral that serves as a major source of titanium. It typically contains between 50 and 65 percent titanium dioxide (TiO₂).32
• Rutile (TiO₂): A mineral composed of titanium dioxide, which is highly valued for its high titanium content, typically around 95 percent.2

In addition to these primary ores, other materials are utilized in the industry:

• Leucoxene: A naturally occurring alteration product of ilmenite where some iron has been leached away.2
• Synthetic Rutile: Produced by upgrading ilmenite through pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical techniques to increase its TiO₂ content to 90–93 percent.4
• Titaniferous Slags: Derived from the smelting of titaniferous magnetite ores, these are also used as feedstocks in the production of titanium tetrachloride (TiCl₄).4

These minerals are processed primarily to produce titanium dioxide for the pigment industry or to create titanium metal through chemical reduction processes.14