Industrial Minerals

Zircon mineral is a glassy mineral has found its place in many an industrial application worldwide. Starting from ceramics and refractory tiles to a range of high-tech applications. Zircon compounds have a vMineralery low toxicity and are not perceived as a potential environmental hazard. They are even said to have some medicinal properties and are now increasingly preferred in the manufacture of food products and pharmaceuticals too.

Zircon's exceptional qualities of hardness and durability makes it a must-use for the manufacture of ceramics and refractory tiles and also for a range of other high-tech applications such as armour plating on military aircraft, heat shield in space shuttles and potentially as solid oxide fuel cells in hydrogen powered vehicles in many industrial and chemical applications.

The Industrial zircon ceramics are extensively used as linings to protect furnaces and kilns for smelting of metals because they can retain their physical and chemical composition even when subjected to high temperatures. Zircon application is mainly confined to mould faces and cores, which directly come in contact with molten metal. Zircon sand helps in minimising the penetration of mould by the molten metal and thus ensures that the casting gets a good surface finish.

It is predominantly used as a glaze material and as an opacifier to provide shine and brightness for crockery, sanitary ware, Ceramic tiles, other decorative ceramic products and is also widely used in television and computer screens. Resistance to corrosion and erosion makes zircon products ideal for use in the chemical industry and in desalination plants.

Ilmenite is mined in the form of beach sand along with Garnet. BMC Ilmenite has a minimum of 50% Titanium Dioxide(TiO2) content, wjich is predominantly used in manufacture of pigments. After eliminating the iron particles, Ilmenite is processed to produce Synthetic Rutile, which is further developed to make TiO2. Synthetic Rutile is used to make Titanium metal, a versatile materials with exceptional characteristics. THe lightness, strength and durability of the metal makes it an essential metal to the aeroscape industry. Also used in desalination plants and corrosive chemical industries because of its inertness and resistance to corrosion, its non-reactive property makes titanium metal one of the few materials that can be used in the human body as hip replacements and pacemakers. Off late, it is also being used to make jewellery, advanced sports and engineering equipment.

BMC Rutile processess a high concentration of TiO2 content about 90-95%. Due to its opaque nature and High Refractive Index, TiO2 pigment is usd extensively in the plant industry and has replaced old-fashined lead corbonate pigments.It also finds its use as a colouring agent for almost every colour and for virtually any kind of product ranging from plasrics to paper to clothing to ceramic. Because of its non-toxic nature, it is used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and even added to foodstuffs such as flour, icing sugar and sweets as well as toothpaste to improve their brightness.

BMC Groups's core competence exists with Mining. Processing and Refining of Almandine Garnet, Ilmenite Rutile and Zircon from the beach sand deposit reserves on the costal stretch of south India to make it available for surface preparation and other industrial applications. BMC is commited to managing its mining activities in an environmentally responsible manner and will pursue environmental excellence by implementing best policies, systems and procedures to bring about a continual improvement in Environment Management.

BMC Garnet is mined from Almandine mineral deposit sources on the coastal stretch of south India.The Almandine Garnet is the heaviest and hardest of the all types in its own group, which makes it ideal for various industrial applications. Garnet is gradually displacing the other substitute blasting media by its environment friendly utility and reusability thus eliminating the health risks associated with other conventional blasting media. BMC Garnet is available in a range of tightly screened abrasive blasting products to suit every application and site requirement.

• 12/24 Mesh: It can also be used for specialized application where excessive surface profiling is required or very high built coating systems are to be removed. Surface Profile:100-150 microns.
• 20/40 Mesh:It is an abrasive that can be utilized for heavy-duty coating removal. It's recyclability and nominal production rates makes it one of the most preferred repair-grade abrasives. Surface profile:75-100 micron.
• 20/60 Mesh:It is the most cost effective and excellent abrasive of its kind. Its repeatability makes it suited for fast and efficient removal of existing coatings when compared to other abrasive medium. Surface profile:50-90 microns.
• 30/60 Mesh: It is perfect for all blasting applications including, removing existing coating, rust and other contamination. The world's most popular Garnet Blasting Abrasive Grade,is an ideal choice for superior surface preparation for new steel prior to tank coating,fabricated steel and structures. Surface Profile: 50-75 microns.
• 80 Mesh: Possessing highest efficiency on new steel/mill scale due to highest grain count per weight/volume makes it an ideal choice for surface preparation of Aluminium and non-ferrous surfaces.
• 120 Mesh: Utilized for surface preparation of stainless steel and Aluminum where minimum surface roughness is desired, this abrasive medium can be used on a variety of pliable and synthetic products too.

Rutile is the most common natural form of TiO2, the mineral composed primarily of Titanium dioxide (TiO2) which is a non-toxic pigment with High Refractive Index or Opacity- the ability to reflect and scatter all colors of light while absorbing ultra violet light. It possesses high thermal stability and chemical inertness. TiO2, a premier pigment used extensively in the paint industry. About 90% of the titanium mineral produced in the world is used in the manufacture of white titanium dioxide pigment. Because of its non-toxic nature, it is used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and even added to foodstuffs such as flour, icing sugar and sweets as well as toothpaste to improve their brightness. Titanium dioxide is used in the manufacture of many sunscreen lotions and creams because of it non-toxicity and UV absorption properties.


Rutile is also used to make Titanium metal, a versatile material with exceptional characteristics. The lightness, strength and durability of the metal make it an essential metal to the aerospace industry. It is also used in desalination plants and corrosive chemical industries because of its inertness and resistance to corrosion. Its non-reactive property makes titanium metal one of the few materials that can be used in the human body as hip replacements and pacemakers. Titanium metal is also increasingly being used world over in making sports equipment, jewellery and advanced engineering applications.