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Heavy Mineral Sands

Heavy mineral sands is a sector focused on the extraction and processing of dense minerals found in coastal and inland sand deposits. The industry targets minerals with high specific gravity that accumulate in placer deposits through natural weathering and sedimentary processes. Key products include ilmenite, rutile, zircon, monazite and leucoxene, which are separated from lighter quartz sand through gravity and magnetic concentration techniques. Ilmenite and rutile serve as primary feedstocks for titanium dioxide pigment production and titanium metal, while zircon finds applications in ceramics, refractories and foundry casting. Monazite is valued as a source of rare earth elements and thorium. Major producing regions include Australia, South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya, Madagascar and Sri Lanka, with deposits typically mined through dredging or dry mining methods. The sector has gained strategic importance as governments classify titanium feedstocks and rare earths as critical minerals essential for advanced manufacturing, aerospace and defence applications. Heavy mineral sands operations often benefit from relatively low capital intensity compared with hard-rock mining, though they require careful environmental management of rehabilitation and radiation safety where monazite is present. Market dynamics are influenced by demand cycles in the paint, plastics and construction industries for titanium products, and by rare earth supply chain considerations for monazite-bearing deposits.

Heavy Mineral Sands News


Kenzoll Capital partners with MSF Commercials to revive Namibia diamond mine
Kenzoll Capital partners with MSF Commercials to revive Namibia diamond mine
7th October 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

Dutch private equity and special situations investor Kenzoll Capital has partnered with MSF Commercials to restart operations at the Sperrgebiet diamond mine, formerly known as the Elizabeth Bay... 


Kazera subsidiary receives Northern Cape mining right approval
Kazera subsidiary receives Northern Cape mining right approval
2nd September 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

Aim-listed Kazera Global has announced that, following consideration by the Regional Mining Development and Environmental Committee, South Africa’s Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources... 


Technical report confirms value of Kazera’s HMS project
24th August 2026 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

Aim-listed Kazera Global announces that the independent technical report for the Sea Concession 2A heavy mineral sands (HMS) project, in Alexander Bay, Northern Cape, South Africa, has now been... 


Weak market conditions impact Kenmare’s financial performance
Weak market conditions impact Kenmare’s financial performance
19th August 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

London-listed Kenmare Resources has reported that weak market conditions for its products, combined with the slower-than-expected commissioning of wet concentrator plant (WCP) A, continued to... 


Kazera highlights progress on HMS operations development
12th August 2026 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

Aim-listed Kazera Global’s wholly-owned subsidiary Whale Head Minerals (WHM) has prepared an interim operational plan covering the plant and equipment requirements for the development of its heavy... 


Image of South Africa map/flag
Titanium beneficiation complex, South Africa – update
24th July 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

Construction of the first-phase titanium dioxide pigment plant has started. 


Kazera receives $750 000 strategic partner payment for Whale Head Minerals project
Kazera receives $750 000 strategic partner payment for Whale Head Minerals project
20th July 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

Aim-listed Kazera Global has received the initial advance payment of $750 000 from South Africa AT Investments (SAI), as provided for under the long-term mining cooperation and production sharing... 


Kazera subsidiary secures long-term strategic development partner for flagship project
Kazera subsidiary secures long-term strategic development partner for flagship project
9th July 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

Aim-listed Kazera Global’s subsidiary Whale Head Minerals (WHM) has entered into a long-term mining cooperation and production sharing agreement with South Africa AT Investments (SAI), establishing... 


Kazera increases interest in South African assets
7th July 2026 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

Aim-listed Kazera Global has agreed to acquire additional interests in Whale Head Minerals (WHM) and Deep Blue Minerals (DBM), the company’s South African heavy mineral sands and diamond interests... 


A generic image of rare earth mineral samples
Rare earth elements confirmed in clays beneath Malawian deposit – Chilwa Minerals
26th June 2026 By: Lumkile Nkomfe

ASX-listed Chilwa Minerals has highlighted the prevalence of widespread rare earth element mineralisation in clay intervals directly beneath the Mposa heavy minerals sands (HMS) deposit, in... 


Nyanza CEO Donovan Chimhandamba with Mining Weekly’s Martin Creamer at Coatings for Africa.
$870m ilmenite beneficiation project enters construction phase at Richards Bay IDZ
26th June 2026 By: Martin Creamer

The construction of the first phase of the Nyanza Light Metals plant to advance ilmenite up the value curve in the form of titanium dioxide (TiO2) pigment has begun at the Richards Bay Industrial... 


Chilwa triples Mpyupyu West HMS discovery
23rd June 2026 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

ASX-listed Chilwa Minerals reports that reconnaissance hand panning has been extended to the south and south-east of Mpyupyu Hill at the company’s Mpyupyu West heavy mineral sands (HMS) discovery... 


Kazera, Hebei reach settlement in Namibia tantalum arbitration matter
22nd June 2026 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

Aim-listed Kazera Global has executed a definitive settlement agreement with Hebei Xinjian Construction in respect of a previously announced arbitration award concerning African Tantalum (Aftan),... 


The Walviskop HMS project site
Whale Head Minerals signs PSA over South African project
26th May 2026 By: Creamer Media Reporter

Aim-listed Kazera Global's subsidiary Whale Head Minerals has entered into a binding production sharing agreement with South African mineral processing group Rare Earth Minerals International... 


Bolobedu Solar Farm.
KwaZulu-Natal mineral sands mine powered by new Limpopo solar
9th April 2026 By: Martin Creamer

The first megawatt-hours of green electricity have been successfully fed into South Africa’s national grid by a newly commissioned solar farm in Limpopo for supply  to a mining company in... 


Kazera restructures board, appoints interim CEO
7th April 2026 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

Aim-listed Kazera Global has appointed the company’s largest shareholder Richard Jennings executive director and interim CEO, with immediate effect. He is expected to remain interim CEO for six... 


Kazera provides update on operational activities in South Africa
11th February 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

Aim-listed Kazera Global has reported that, following the seasonal slowdown over the South African Christmas and summer holiday period, activity at its operations has accelerated as expected, with... 


Feasibility study confirms economics of Energy Fuels’ Madagascar rare earth project
9th January 2026 By: Darren Parker

NYSE- and TSX-listed Energy Fuels’ updated feasibility study (FS) for the Vara Mada project, in Madagascar, has confirmed the project’s strong economics, world-class quantities of high-quality rare... 


The Walviskop mineral sands operation
Kazera reports operational progress as it advances towards profitability
12th December 2025 By: Darren Parker

London-listed Kazera Global has reported operational advances across its heavy mineral sands and diamond projects as the company transitions from development into early commercial production, while... 


Kazera Global raises £1.6m
4th December 2025 By: Darren Parker

Aim-listed Kazera Global has closed its retail share offer, bringing in £262 407 and lifting the total proceeds from its latest fundraising activities to £1.6-million. The investment company, which... 


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pqt: 0.068s - ct: 0.113s - 275pq - 2rq
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