China Titanium Concentrate Imports Rose in February 2023

[SMM Titaniumm Flash] SAGA Metals and Temas Resources have begun an approximately eight-week bench-scale optimisation programme using material from SAGA’s Radar titanium–vanadium–iron project in Labrador, Canada. The programme follows earlier laboratory tests that recovered up to 90.8% of titanium from an ilmenite concentrate under the conditions tested. The new work will compare feed samples and refine leaching and solvent-extraction conditions. The companies aim to produce initial high-purity titanium dioxide, vanadium and iron samples and gather data for a possible mini-pilot decision. Those products have not yet been reported, and the earlier laboratory recovery does not establish commercial yields or costs. Processing results will help determine whether Radar has a viable route to downstream titanium products.

[SMM Titanium Flash] Tusker Minerals reported on 30 September that follow-up sampling at its Mzimba project in northern Malawi had changed its geological interpretation. Magnetic titanium exceeded calculated rutile-equivalent in 112 of 149 regional soil samples, pointing to an ilmenite-dominant system with localised rutile. Thirty-three shallow pit-channel samples did not show high-grade rutile persisting with depth. Tusker said the results do not support an immediate rutile-focused drilling programme on the Phase 1 anomalies. The result weakens the specific premium-rutile exploration case suggested by earlier selected samples. It does not establish a mineral resource or show that ilmenite could be mined profitably. Tusker will reassess its geological model before deciding on further Mzimba work; its near-term capital and technical focus remains on Cameroon. The mineral mix and grade continuity still need to be established before the project’s feedstock potential can be assessed.

[SMM Titanium Flash] More than 6,500 people in Madagascar have filed a claim in London’s High Court against Rio Tinto over alleged contamination linked to its QIT Madagascar Minerals (QMM) ilmenite operation, Reuters reported on 30 September. The claimants, represented by Leigh Day, allege wastewater exposed communities to lead and uranium and seek compensation and remedial orders. Rio Tinto said it had been notified but had not received the claim documents. It said its water monitoring found uranium samples below detection limits and most lead samples below detection limits. QMM produces ilmenite for the titanium dioxide supply chain. The case places water management and community relations at a major African mineral sands operation under renewed scrutiny. The allegations remain unproven, and the filing itself does not establish any change in QMM production.