titaniferous

Titaniferous is an adjective used in geology and mineralogy to describe rocks or minerals that contain titanium, typically in the form of titanium-bearing minerals such as ilmenite (FeTiO3), rutile (TiO2), and titanite (CaTiSiO5). The term derives from titanium, which is named after the Titans of Greek mythology, combined with the suffix -ferous, meaning bearing.

Common titaniferous minerals include ilmenite, rutile, and titanite, as well as titaniferous magnetite where titanium substitutes for some iron in the magnetite structure. Titanium dioxide polymorphs such as anatase and brookite are also considered titaniferous in a mineralogical sense. In some contexts, accessory titanium-bearing minerals can occur in a variety of rock types and geological environments.

Titaniferous materials occur in a range of geological settings. They are widespread in ultramafic and mafic rocks, including peridotites, basalts, and gabbros, where Ti-rich minerals crystallize from magma. They also form in sedimentary environments as heavy-mineral sands, produced by weathering and concentration of Ti-bearing minerals along ancient or modern shorelines.

Economically, ilmenite and rutile are the principal titanium ore minerals, mined for their titanium dioxide content used to produce TiO2 pigments for paints, plastics, paper, and cosmetics. Titaniferous magnetite ores can also be processed to recover titanium as slag. Titanium metal production follows separate refining and processing routes, but the term titaniferous primarily notes the titanium-bearing nature of the ore or rock.