Combined XRD, EPMA and X-ray absorption study of mineral ilmenite used in pigments production

The phase composition of mineral ilmenite, originating from a geological deposit in southern Norway, was investigated by several complementary methods. This mineral is commonly used in the production of white pigments. Knowledge of elemental, chemical and phase composition has a large influence on efficiency, safety, kinetics of reaction and quality of products. The X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), single particles (SP), conventional electron probe X-ray microanalysis (EPMA) and X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES) were applied for full characterisation of the mineral ilmenite samples. The mineral was found to be non-homogeneous. Three main phases were identified: ilmenite (FeTiO3), hematite (Fe2O3) and enstatite (MgSiO3). For study of non-homogeneous materials, the single particles EPMA approach was found to offer promising possibilities to observe the real distribution of different phases among the grains of mineral.