Mozambique

Ever noticed dark stretches in lighter sand? They can hint at a treasure. 

Stumbled upon in 1997 near the Limpopo River in Mozambique, the ‘Corridor Sands’ aren’t your everyday beach sand. They’re part of one of the world’s largest heavy minerals deposits. 

Those dark stretches in lighter sand? Here, it’s ilmenite-rich sand, a hot commodity for industries. After filtering out the heavy grains from the lighter ones, most end up as titanium dioxide, used in everything from white paint to polish abrasives and titanium metal.

So, next time you admire a sleek, white-painted wall or a titanium product, think of Mozambique’s sands. 

Each grain of sand has its story in nature, as in OUAW’s jewelry.