State-of-the-art and perspectives in the heavy mineral industry of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Heavy minerals have become an essential commodity in modern-day technology. The objective of this study is to examine the current status of the heavy mineral industry of Sri Lanka. The present study also examines the economic viability of potential heavy mineral placer deposits, based on geochemical data. Field investigations suggested the occurrence of heavy minerals as beach-placers, and inland/raised beach deposits along the coastline of Sri Lanka. Geochemical results showed the enrichment of TiO 2 , Fe 2 O 3 , Al 2 O 3 , and trace elements, and depletion of other major oxides such as Na 2 O, K 2 O, MnO, MgO, CaO, and P 2 O 5 . Consequently, it suggests the abundance of ilmenite, leucoxene, rutile, sillimanite, garnet, and rare earth element (REE)-bearing heavy minerals in potential placer deposits. In contrast, this study illustrates the exported quantity (in the weight ratio of 35:3:1) of ilmenite, rutile, and zircon minerals during the last decade. Ilmenite is the dominant heavy mineral in Sri Lanka, and thus, its production and price volatilisations are essential to understand the current status and predict the future behaviour of the heavy mineral industry. Statistical observations suggest that the global production and unit price variations of ilmenite have increased gradually from 1950 to 2015. Besides, the forecasted variations in annual global production and unit price changes of ilmenite indicate healthy compound annual growth rates of 1.27% and 1.43%, respectively. However, Sri Lanka has less contribution (< 1%) to global ilmenite production. Consequently, the value addition of ilmenite must be highly encouraged with at least an immediate stage (e.g. synthetic rutile). The present study also highlights possible value addition stages of available heavy mineral resources (low-, intermediate-, or high-level value addition), and discusses action plans to improve the quality of the heavy mineral industry of Sri Lanka. In recommendations, imposing sustainable regulations and policies would uplift the heavy mineral industry of Sri Lanka. For example, value addition to local heavy minerals and terminating raw commodity export are highly recommended.

Recovery Potential of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) from the Gem Mining Waste of Sri Lanka: A Case Study for Mine Waste Management

“…The concentrates are thus piled up in gem mining sites without proper safe disposal procedures. Therefore, workers may be exposed to a high level of radiation, and their health could be at increased risk [33]. Detailed studies are recommended to investigate this aspect in the gem mining industry in Sri Lanka to ensure that the industry is cleaner and more sustainable.…”

Sustainable Use of Natural Capital: The Inconvenient Imperative

“…Further, there should be a long-term plan to extract these mineral resources and rehabilitate the land, which can then be used for resettlement or any other purpose so that conflicts with land use can be avoided altogether. Finally, the contribution of minerals from Sri Lanka to the global market is relatively very low (less than 1%) and therefore, exporting raw minerals will have relatively low economic returns compared to value-added products, which will not only result in higher economic returns but also uplift local industries and create new job opportunities (Subasinghe et al, 2021).…”

Contribution of Mining Industry in Chosen EU Countries to the Sustainability Issues

“…There is research demonstrating that sustainability initiatives play an important role in mining companies' operations [11]. Outside the EU, the status of the mineral industry in Sri Lanka has been examined, wherein the establishment of sustainable regulations and policies would enhance the mineral industry [12]. The Indonesian mining sector continues with implications of the mining law requiring certain in-country processing and beneficiation [13].…”