Zircon/Zirconia features

• Out of the melting pot: A year of change in refractories IM September 2018

  After a year of reorganization and changing narratives in the refractories industry – from significant M&A activity to raw material price spikes, and from booming end-market demand to uncertainties in global trade – Industrial Minerals correspondent Myles McCormick takes stock of a changed landscape for companies operating in the sector. Read More

• A growth trajectory: ceramics markets look to Asia IM April 2018

  The ceramics industry registered a dip in trade and production following the global economic downturn in 2008. But, as Industrial Minerals correspondent Sunder Singh finds, trade in Asia is now picking up, which is putting renewed pressure on kaolin, zircon, bentonite and other ceramics markets. Read More

• On the way up: Industrial minerals in India IM March 2018

  India has recorded economic growth of around 7% per year in the past three years. But while it has significant resources of some of the most widely used industrial minerals, this sector has shown only modest growth, as Industrial Minerals correspondent Sunder Singh discovers. Read More

• Separation anxiety: Ceramic membranes seek commercial niche IM February 2018

  While porous ceramic membranes for nanofiltration of liquids have been widely adopted, take-up of dense ceramic membranes for gas separation has been relatively slow to follow. IM Correspondent Rose Pengelly looks into this lesser known corner of the technical ceramics industry and discovers some of its most promising applications. Read More

• Zircon 101: where will new demand come from? IM October-November 2017

  Zircon is important - and some would argue irreplaceable - in markets such as ceramics, which accounts for around 50% of demand. But, as Cameron Perks, IM Correspondent, discovers, there are new sources of interest within that same industry - and demand projections vary wildly. Read More

• Not a Cinderella story: Half a century of Industrial Minerals IM September 2017

  Long dismissed as the Cinderella of the commodities world, industrial minerals were regarded as high bulk, low value for most outside the network which makes up our world. But after 50 years IM is looking forward to a glittering future - and so are those at the top of the industrial minerals tree, interviewed in turn about the changing face of the industry. Read More

• Indian refractories sector hopes rising steel tide will lift all boats IM September 2017

  Booming steel production has helped prop up demand for Indian refractories amid lacklustre demand from cement and foundries, but as Sunder Singh, IM Correspondent explains, the country’s relatively healthy market is attracting increased foreign competition. Read More

• US exiting Paris Treaty not expected to impact minerals sector IM July-August 2017

  In the wake of President Trump’s announcement that the US will be pulling out of the 2015 Paris Climate Treaty, IM looks at the significance of this move and the possible impact this will have on the industrial minerals market. By Mark Rowe Read More

• TiO2 feedstocks turn a corner IM March 2017

  A rebound in titanium dioxide prices and demand has paved the way for positive momentum in the mineral sands sector. Kasia Patel, North American Editor, and Cameron Perks, IM Correspondent, look at current industry trends and planned new projects in the sector. Read More

• Cut and thrust in the global abrasives market IM September 2016

  The global abrasives market is a fairly steady one, but new innovations in application technology are helping to compensate for areas of shrinking demand, Rose Pengelly, IM Correspondent, discovers. Read More

• Smelting point? An update on major refractories for glass smelters IM September 2016

  Fused cast blocks have dominated the market for glass refractories since the early 20th century. Carlo Ratto takes a look at some of the alternative products which have emerged over the years and assesses the future uptake prospects for these materials. Read More

• Supply Security Report: Mineral Sands IM June 2016

  Mineral sands industry sentiment has been a mixed bag throughout 2015 and into 2016. Cameron Perks, IM Correspondent, takes a look at the ups and downs of 2015 and asks whether mineral sands markets will register any improvements in 2016. Read More

• India's mining industry: Challenges and potential IM June 2016

  The Indian mining industry is best described as a success story still in the making. Despite holding reserves of 89 different minerals, Shruti Salwan, IM Analyst, examines why growth in the domestic mining industry has been relatively stagnant, failing to reap the benefits of an emerging middle class. Read More

• Growth in energy harvesting for ceramics picking up speed IM June 2016

  The increased uptake of EVs and the growing interest in various types of battery components is fuelling demand for ceramics in energy harvesting, which so far has accounted for a fraction of the industry. Kasia Patel Read More

• Alumina advances in technical ceramics IM April 2016

  Alumina is the most widely used raw material in technical ceramics production, accounting for up to 80% of the total used. Jessica Roberts* looks at some of the key raw materials in advanced ceramics and their supply chains and outlines which sectors are poised for growth. Read More

• Australian mining: Down but not under IM November 2015

  The Australian resources sector is adjusting to lower commodity prices, which have necessitated a revision of cost structures and spending plans. IM gets a feel for the industry’s sentiments and looks at how the country’s miners are making plans to do business in a post-supercycle environment. Read More

• New South Wales maps out industrial mineral opportunities IM November 2015

  The eastern Australian state of NSW is home to a large number of highly prospective industrial mineral deposits. Cameron Perks and David Forster* outline how the Geological Survey of New South Wales is producing an updated map of the region’s geology in order to showcase its potential to investors, geologists and the wider community. Read More

• Alteo: Abrasive ambition IM June 2015

  Gardanne, France-based Alteo is a leading supplier of speciality alumina products to the global refractories and ceramics industries, but its main focus is on abrasives, as it seeks to capitalise pockets of “tightness” in supply. In order to take advantage of slim opportunities in what is a fiercely competitive market, the company has had to reinvent itself as a business with a reputation for reliability and consistency, Diego Audemard, commercial director for Alteo ARC Fused Aluminas, told IM. Read More

• Critical minerals: booms, busts and price spike indicators IM March 2015

  As the growth in next generation technologies – most notably green energy – continues to gain momentum, scrutiny is intensifying on the supply and sustainability of the raw materials that are facilitating these developments. IM Research analyses the market sensitivity of eight of these critical minerals. Read More

• Innovation and new markets heat up demand for technical ceramics IM February 2015

  Specific consumption of refractories in the steel, glass and cement industries has been steadily declining worldwide, while the market has increasingly shifted towards higher quality products. Antonio Torrisi explores how advanced technical ceramics can benefit from new market trends globally. Read More

• Tough times for many in 2015 IM January 2015

  Energy minerals still waiting for battery lift off; chromite market bearish over next 12 months Read More

• Australia: End of the mining gloom? IM December 2014

  The downturn of the global “commodities supercyle” and slowing raw material demand in China has been felt keenly in Australia’s resources sector. But while proponents of Australian mining admit the industry isn’t quite as mighty as it used to be, they say that there are still plenty of reasons to be positive Down Under, Siobhan Lismore-Scott, Editor and Laura Syrett, Prices Editor, discover. Read More

• Alkane well positioned to bring Dubbo to fruition IM November 2014

  Alkane look to zircon markets with the Dubbo project Read More

• Thunderbirds are go! Sheffield Resources WA zircon deposit. IM October 2014 issue

  Thunderbird deposit can fulfil 8% of global zircon demand according to Sheffield Resources; metallurgical testwork confirms high quality product using conventional process. Read More

• IM Prices IM October 2014 issue

  Zircon buyers thrift; ilmenite further to fall Read More

• Developing Vietnam’s mineral sands for the rare earths market IM October 2014 issue

  Vietnam has 3,260km of coastline, along which the main sand deposits containing ilmenite, rutile, zircon and other heavy minerals are distributed. Tran Kim Phuong* outlines how these deposits can be of use for the rare earths — or the TiO2 — market. Read More

• Mineral industry gears up for post-summer activity IM September 2014

  Potash miners unlikely to accept price erosion; Soda ash prices buoyed by capacity decreases; Substitution threat looms over zircon prices Read More

• Raw materials trends in refractories IM September 2014

  Over the last two years IM has reported on the shifting trends in the refractories industry, with China looking to reduce wastage and increase energy efficiency. Ted Dickson* explores these various trends and asks – how will this shift impact raw material supply? Read More

• Summer holiday for agriminerals, no break for mineral sands IM August 2014

  Agrimineral demand recovery continues as flame retardant chemical price growth stutters; no gains in sight for mineral sands Read More

• Speciality product prices outstrip mineral values in traditional volume markets IM July 2014 issue

  Antimony prices settle for summer months; Magnesia stabilises as spot market sleeps Read More

• Shifting sands: substitution and expanding markets IM July 2014 issue

  Zircon and its derivatives face an uncertain future owing to competition from substitute materials, but where is additional demand expected to come from? Kasia Patel, Chief Reporter, investigates. Read More

• Ceramics: an urban landscape IM February 2014 issue

  Despite slow growth in traditional markets such as Europe, the ceramics industry is expected to be driven by urbanisation and a rebound in housing and construction in key markets such as China and the Middle East, creating opportunities for suppliers of ceramic minerals such as kaolin, zircon and feldspar. Read More

• Year in Review 2013: Just when we couldn’t sink any further, we did IM January 2014 issue

  It has not been a good year for the industrial minerals industry. There have been some shining lights, of course Ñexploration continues at an astonishing rate in some markets despite falling demand and, consequently, prices - but on the whole producers and suppliers have felt the pinch. Read More

• Supply Situation Report: Light at the end of the tunnel for TiO2 feedstocks IM July 2013

  The titanium dioxide (TiO2) feedstock industry underwent a significant period of upheaval during 2012: prices rose, prices fell and production was cut by some of the largest producers. Read More

• Price Briefing: Titanium dioxide hikes unlikely to stick IM May 2013

  Recent titanium dioxide (TiO2) price hikes by major producers are unlikely to be accepted by pigment endusers, analysts told IM. Read More

• Cracks on the surface? IM May 2013

  The ceramics industry may have suffered on the back of bearish demand and flagging construction, but the sector’s major players are eyeing BRIC markets, while making expansions and acquisitions in far flung corners of the world, as Siobhan Lismore, Editor, discovers Read More

• Chinese TiO2: mixed signals amid a flight to overcapacity IM April 2013 issue

  China is taking on more significance as a global producer of titanium dioxide pigment, industry consultants TZMI, explore recent developments and the country’s future growth Read More

• Projects in the pipeline: Green hills of Africa not as important as its sandy beaches IM April 2013 issue

  2013 is to be Africa's year with Kwale to be first online followed by Minerals Commodities' Tormin and Mineral Deposits' Grand Cote Read More

• CERAMICS CHINA 2013: Technology goes first March 2013 issue

  Guangzhou based show confronts a downshift in global economy Read More

• The rough with the smooth March 2013 issue

  Abrasives have had a hard time in the last few years as demand has waned on the back of an uncertain economy, but all sectors are set to enjoy growth as manufacturing returns to the black. Siobhan Lismore, Editor, takes a look at an industry on the up Read More

• IM 2012 Round-ups: Zircon January Issue 2013

  Starting off the year in a bad place, things just got tougher for zircon with overstocks and substitute minerals looming Read More

• TiO2 or tai bai fen? China’s dominance to rise December 2012 issue

  John Ollett reports from the sidelines of this years TZMI conference in Hong Kong, where he finds the conversation has turned to the TiO2 processing route and China’s position in the market. Read More

• Price Briefing: While other markets tremble, antimony leads the way October 2012 issue

  While rare earths, zircon and TiO2 feedstocks slipped in September, antimony trioxide prices showed some recovery. Read More

• End User Focus: Playing ceramic catch-up July 2012

  There are three main sectors for production of ceramics in the world: porcelain/tableware, sanitaryware and tiles. In all of these markets, China is the world’s leading producer and consumer and it is just the global ceramic tiles sector that will be considered in the following. Read More

• Industrial Minerals Prices July 2012 July 2012

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• Vietnam’s refractory vision to 2020 June 2012

  Vietnam is a country rich in minerals, boasting significant reserves of barytes, bauxite, and clays. Dr Tran Kim Phuong argues the case for foreign investment in Vietnam’s refractory raw materials, outlining their strategic development through to 2020 Read More

• Price Briefing: Shaky fundamentals felt in minerals markets as economy wobbles June 2012

  With bearish headlines flashing across screens this month it would be logical to come to the conclusion that all markets, minerals ones included, were failing. Read More

• End User Focus: Reconstruction revives refractories in Japan February 2012

  Sluggish steel outlook tempered by cement stimulus from post-quake rebuilding programme Read More

• Zirconium’s cloudy future January 2012

  Prices for zircon sand and downstream zirconium chemicals tripled over 2010-2011, pushing consumers to look for alternative materials. Alister MacDonald examines zircon’s substitution potential, but cautions that demand in 2012 is anything but certain Read More

• Weighing the alternatives October 2011

  Raw materials supply remains one of the chief concerns of the refractories industry. IM talked to the players in the sector to understand what the potential alternatives are for minerals such as bauxite, magnesia, graphite and zircon Read More