Recovery of titanium values in high yield

Ti values are recovered by roasting, the crushed source e.g. ilmenite at 600-1000 degrees C in presence of H2 and/or CO gas, leaching with hydrogen halide at up to 110 degrees C sepg. gangue and cooling solubilised metal halides to ppts. FeCl2. The leach liquor is then treated at 70-100 degrees C with 2.5-50 times stoichiometrically required amount of Fe2O3 to convert Ti halide to TiO2. The leach liquor is agitated and solids are recovered and mixed with a second leach soln. contg. sufficient Ti halide to consume remaining Fe2O3. TiO2 is recovered. The ore e.g. ilmenite is crushed to -35 mesh and roasted at 600-900 degrees C in a 50-50 CO-H2 gas mixt. for 0.25-2 hours., then leached with HCl at 80-100 degrees C for 0.25-1 hour. The leach liquor is cooled to 0-90 degrees C to cause crystillisation of FeCl. The excess of Fe2O3 is then added and reaction allowed to proceed for 1-10 minutes after which solids are removed and mixed with the second leach solution.