How does a floating dredge collect titanium-bearing mineral sands?

A floating dredge collects titanium-bearing mineral sands primarily through hydraulic suction methods designed to excavate and transport unconsolidated sediments.123

In this process, a suction bucket wheel or a similar rotary cutting head is used to loosen the mineral-rich sand at the mine face. This mechanical action, combined with the suction force of a centrifugal pump, creates a slurry—a mixture of water and solids—that is drawn through a suction pipe.134

Once the material is brought to the surface, it is typically supplied to a series of screens known as trommels, which serve to remove unwanted debris and larger materials. The remaining mineral-rich sand is then processed, often using gravity separation in a wet spiral concentrator to isolate the valuable titanium-bearing minerals from waste. This efficient, continuous operation allows for the large-scale recovery of heavy minerals from placer deposits.1523