Our markets

Products and uses

The main components of mineral sand are ilmenite (Fe TiO3), zircon (ZrSiO4), leucoxene, and rutile (TiO2). All of these products are essential for the industrial paint market…

Specifically, GCO produces:

• three categories of ilmenite: ilmenite 54 (composed of 54% titanium dioxide, TiO2), to produce titanium dioxide slag. Ilmenite 58, meanwhile, is sold directly to pigment producers. Ilmenite 56 was originally non-recoverable waste, but was made recoverable using a standardization process in partnership with an industry capable of using this product.
• three categories of zircon: Premium, Standard, and a lower-grade concentrate called MGZS, all in sand form and all transported in big bags.
  Known for its hardness as well as its whitening and opacifying properties, zircon is mainly used in the ceramics industry. Its white form is most commonly used in frits (a component of enamel) and varnishes. It is also used in applications such as abrasive or abrasion-resistant materials, jewelry (zirconium dioxide), nuclear power (zirconium metal), and dental prosthetics.
• rutile (95% titanium dioxide). The quality produced is ideal for the arc welding market.
• leucoxene (90% titanium dioxide). Leucoxene is also supplied to the arc welding market.