Alrosa turns diamond mining waste into a titanium goldmine in Yakutia

Alrosa’s Vilyui Geological Exploration Expedition (VGEE) is testing ways to extract titanium as a byproduct from diamond mining waste. The project focuses on kimberlite ore at the Udachny and Zarnitsa pipes in Western Yakutia. If successful, the process could turn decades-old tailings into a valuable resource for Russia’s metallurgy industry. Titanium deposits in Yakutia’s kimberlite pipes were first identified in the 1960s, mainly as picroilmenite. The Udachny pipe alone contains an average of 0.8 kilograms of titanium per ton of rock. Over years of diamond extraction, Alrosa’s Udachny Plant No. 12 has accumulated large volumes of tailings rich in this mineral.

VGEE has now designed a geological exploration plan for recovering byproduct minerals at Udachny. The proposal recently passed review by Rosgeoexpertiza, clearing the way for further development. Specialists are currently refining samples to produce a titanium concentrate with over 50% purity—suitable for industrial smelting. Should the method prove cost-effective, Plant No. 12 could add new processing stages to extract titanium concentrate alongside its usual operations. At current capacity, the site might yield up to 6,000 tons of concentrate each year. Alrosa would then have the option to supply this material to Russia’s non-ferrous metallurgy sector.

The initiative repurposes waste from diamond mining while tapping into a long-known but unused resource. If the concentrate meets quality and economic targets, the project could create a steady titanium supply for domestic manufacturers. The next steps depend on refining the extraction process and assessing its commercial feasibility.