National Mineral Policy 2006 - Department of Mines

POLICY ON BEACH SAND MINERALS7.64 BSMs, counted amongst atomic minerals in the MMDR Act, are minerals found in thesands of the beaches along the 6000 km coastline of the country. Regional exploration hasbeen carried out by the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD)over 2546 km, detailed exploration has been completed over 1000 km, and actual mining iscarried out over 100 km. BSMs mainly include seven minerals that are of significance. Threeof these are titanium bearing, viz. ilmenite, rutile, and leucoxene. The other four are zircon,monazite, garnet, and sillimanite.7.65 Of these, ilmenite is commercially the most important mineral and constitutes about65–70 per cent of the total beach sand deposits. Ilmenite yields titanium dioxide and titaniumsponge for metal and alloys. Titanium dioxide is used mainly in pigments but also inceramics, chemicals, papers and plastics, and pharmaceuticals. Almost 95 per cent of theworldwide use of titanium dioxide is for the production of white pigment. Titanium metal andalloys are the basic raw material for aircraft and aerospace and are increasingly being used inchemical industries, iron and steel industries, and Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG)generally. Titanium is recognised as a strong metal of light weight, non-corrosive, and able towithstand temperature extremes (melting point of 1800 ºC). Titanium being as strong as steeland twice as strong as aluminium, its strength-to-weight ratio is superior to that of any othermetal known today. In fact, titanium is often referred to as the metal of the future, and couldeven replace steel in the next 50 years.7.66 Of the other four BSMs, viz. zircon, monazite, sillimanite, and garnet, only garnet isof great commercial significance. Regarding the other two, zircon is used in foundries,refractories, ceramics, glazed tiles, and white wares. Zirconium is obtained from zircon and isprimarily used in nuclear reactors due to its resistance to corrosion and low absorption crosssectionfor thermal neutrons. Monazite is the primary source of thorium for the third stage ofIndia’s nuclear programme. It also yields thorium nitrate, which is used in the gas mantleindustry, thorium oxide which is used in fluorescent tubes and starters, and uranium oxidewhich is used exclusively for nuclear industries. Monazite is the only radioactive substanceamong BSMs. The monazite content of BSM ranges from 0.1 percent to 2 percent, withisolated patches up to 10 per cent. Background radiation levels where monazite is present arehigh and radiological hazards increase due to higher concentration of monazite afterseparation of other minerals.168