THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: If the state government decides to use the tons of mineral sand effectively, Kerala’s face will change. Mineral sand is Kerala’s treasure just like Petroleum is for gulf countries. The government has decided to put an end to smuggling of minerals to Tamil Nadu and give the minerals to the private companies in Kerala. There are many nutritious elements like monocyte and zircon in the mineral sands in Kerala. The mineral sands are also rich in titanium. KMML and Travancore titanium are titanium based businesses. When the companies are forced to end the mining due to local protests, about 5000 employees land in a crisis and they may have to buy minerals from abroad and this increases the cost.

Mineral sands are old beach sands that contain concentrations of the important minerals, rutile, ilmenite, zircon and monazite. These minerals are heavy and are also called 'heavy minerals'. The relative density of common sand minerals such as quartz is around 2.65. EP Jayarajan has clarified that smuggling will be banned.