Exploration and Mineralogical Analysis of Zirconium and Titanium-Rich Minerals in Cox's Bazar Beach Sand

Journal article

Md. Ashiqur Rahman Alif, Military Institite of Science & Technology (MIST), , Arijit Saha Ayon, Military Institute of Science, , Dr Mokhlesur Rahman, Military Institute of Science, , Md. Abdul Hakim Shalim, Military Institute of Science, , Molla Md Zubaer, Military Institute of Science, , Mohamad Faiz Bin Mohd Amin, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, , Md. Shohel Rana, Bangladesh Council of Scientific
SSRN- Social Science Research Network, January , 2025, p. 15

DOI: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm

Cite

APA Click to copy
Alif, M. A. R., of Science & Technology (MIST), M. I., and Arijit Saha Ayon, of Science, M. I., Technology, and Dr Mokhlesur Rahman, … Research, I. (2025). Exploration and Mineralogical Analysis of Zirconium and Titanium-Rich Minerals in Cox's Bazar Beach Sand. SSRN- Social Science Research Network, (January ), 15. https://doi.org/https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm

Chicago/Turabian Click to copy
Alif, Md. Ashiqur Rahman, Military Institite of Science & Technology (MIST), and Arijit Saha Ayon, Military Institute of Science, Technology, and Dr Mokhlesur Rahman, Military Institute of Science, et al. “Exploration and Mineralogical Analysis of Zirconium and Titanium-Rich Minerals in Cox's Bazar Beach Sand.” SSRN- Social Science Research Network, no. January (2025): 15.

MLA Click to copy
Alif, Md. Ashiqur Rahman, et al. “Exploration and Mineralogical Analysis of Zirconium and Titanium-Rich Minerals in Cox's Bazar Beach Sand.” SSRN- Social Science Research Network, no. January , 2025, p. 15, doi:https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm.

BibTeX Click to copy

@article{md2025a,
  title = {Exploration and Mineralogical Analysis of Zirconium and Titanium-Rich Minerals in Cox's Bazar Beach Sand},
  year = {2025},
  issue = {January },
  journal = {SSRN- Social Science Research Network},
  pages = {15},
  doi = {https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm},
  author = {Alif, Md. Ashiqur Rahman and of Science & Technology (MIST), Military Institite and and Arijit Saha Ayon and of Science, Military Institute and Technology and and Dr Mokhlesur Rahman and of Science, Military Institute and Technology and and Md. Abdul Hakim Shalim and of Science, Military Institute and Technology and and Molla Md Zubaer and of Science, Military Institute and Technology and and Mohamad Faiz Bin Mohd Amin and Kelantan, Universiti Malaysia and and Md. Shohel Rana and of Scientific, Bangladesh Council and Research, Industrial}
}

Abstract

Zirconium (Zr) and titanium (Ti) are critical elements primarily derived from the minerals zircon (ZrSiO4) and ilmenite (FeTiO3), respectively. Zircon, often found alongside rutile and ilmenite, is a byproduct of their extraction. The high melting point, mechanical and chemical strength, and corrosion resistance of zirconium enable its use in various applications, including ceramics, nuclear fuel rod cladding, thermal insulators, catalysts, pharmaceuticals, and electronics. Similarly, titanium, obtained from ilmenite, rutile (TiO2), and leucoxene, is valued for its high strength, low density, and corrosion resistance, making it essential in nuclear power plant piping, heat exchangers, and condensers. This study conducts a mineralogical analysis of the five beach sand samples collected from Cox's Bazar coastal area. All five samples were collected from the back dune to get a higher percentage of heavy minerals. The elemental composition of bulk sand is determined using Wave Dispersion X-ray Fluorescence (WDXRF) and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF). Rutile, ilmenite, zircon, magnetite, and garnet of two samples (sample L-4 and L-5) among five samples were separated using an Induced Roll Magnetic Separator (IRMS) and Electrostatic Plate Separator (ESPS). The heavy mineral concentration of those two samples was determined by using a Heavy liquid separation process where tetrabromoethane was used as a density separator. Heavy minerals concentration in L-4 and L-5 samples were 34.65 wt% (weight percentage) and 47.35 wt%(weight percentage) respectively. Each separated heavy mineral was analyzed using a portable XRF; the result indicates the heavy minerals have been separated quite effectively.

Keywords: Zircon, Ilmenite, X-ray Fluorescence, Induced Roll Magnetic Separator, Electrostatic Plate Separator, tetrabromoethane

Cox's Bazar Beach Sand Collection