Niobium and Tantalum in the Rutile of Kerala Beach Sands

Rutile concentrate produced by the Indian Rare Earths Limited from Kerala beach sands analyses 1.5% Nb₂O₅ and 0.13% Ta₂O₅. Incident light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy have revealed that niobium and tantalum are camouflaging Ti in this rutile. Exsolved acicular inclusions of tapiolite are observed in a few grains. Preliminary experiments to obtain Nb-Ta rich fraction from this rutile by physical methods have not given encouraging results, but it is observed that these elements get relatively enriched in the residual titanium dust, which accumulates as a waste product in the titanium pilot plant at Nuclear Fuel Complex, Hyderabad. Concentrates containing up to 31% Nb₂O₅ and 3.8% Ta₂O₅ could be obtained from this residual dust after elimination of carbon.