Reduction of iron content in a rutile sample from Travancore Minerals, Quilon

A sample of rutile from Travancore Minerals (P) Ltd., Quilon, assaying 95.06% Ti0,, 1.5% Fe203 and 3.7% Si0, was received for reduction of its iron content. Besides rutile, the sample contained small amounts of leucoxene, zircon, ilmenite, sillimanite, and traces of amounts of garnet and monazite. High-intensity magnetic separation of the sample yielded a non-magnetic product _assaying 95.2% Ti02, and 0.78% Fa203 with a recovery of 93. 1% Ti02;this being a step normally employed in the beach sand upgrading plants for the production of high-grade rutile concentrate, it was obvious that this operation had not been performed properly.