Heavy mineral sand mining with "zero" negative lasting impact

Southern Ionics Incorporated (SII) based out of West Point MS USA, are due to start mining their southern Georgia Heavy Mineral (HM) sand deposit by the end of the year. The deposit originates from high grade metamorphic and igneous rocks and is predominately Ilmenite with moderate amounts of zircon and rutile. The zircon percentage of the HM various between 9-24% and the mine will yeild in the region of 13,000 mts per year of zircon sand.

Their proprietary mining plan includes a continuous reclamation process that begins restoring each land parcel immediately after it has been mined. Within 4 months of mining, each mine pit will be refilled and top soil replaced. Within 8 months of mining trees will be replanted and the land returned back to its origins as a pine tree plantation. No wetlands will be mined, there will be recycling and re-use of all the sand processing water and no discharge of industrial wastewater. The achievable target is to make a "zero" negative long term impact on the environment.

The zircon sand will be converted to zirconium oxychloride and is the first domestic producion in the USA. This product will predominantly be used for the production of titanium pigments.

Mining Schematic 

Zircon sand is the starting raw material for the majority of zirconium based products, this includes zirconium oxide, zirconium basic carbonate, zirconium oxychloride, zirconium sulphate and stabilised zirconia powders.

For further information about all our zirconium products please contact us:

Tel : +44 (0)1223 967590

e-mail : enquiries@zircomet.com

Date : 03-11-2014