What is Bauxite?

Bauxite is not a mineral. It is a rock formed from a laterite soil that has been severely leached of silica and other soluble materials in a wet
tropical or subtropical climate. It is the primary ore of aluminum. Almost all of the aluminum that has ever been produced has been
extracted from bauxite.

What is Bauxite's Composition?

Bauxite does not have a specific composition. It is a mixture of hydrous aluminum oxides, aluminum hydroxides, clay minerals and
insoluble materials such as quartz, hematite, magnetite, siderite and goethite. The aluminum minerals in bauxite can include: gibbsite
Al(OH)3, boehmite AlO(OH), and, diaspore, AlO(OH).

Physical Properties of Bauxite

Bauxite is typically a soft (H:1-3), white to gray to reddish brown material with a pisolitic structure, earthy luster and a low specific
gravity (SG: 2.0-2.5). These properties are useful for identifying bauxite; however, they have nothing to do with bauxite's value or
usefulness. This is because bauxite is almost always processed into another material with physical properties that are distinctly different
from bauxite.

Physical Properties of Bauxite

Chemical
Classification
Color

white, gray, sometimes stained yellow,

orange red, pink, brown or yellow by
iron or included iron minerals

Streak

usually white but iron stain can

discolor

Luster

dull, earthy

Diaphaneity

opaque

Cleavage

none

Mohs Hardness

1 to 3

Specific Gravity

2 to 2.5

Diagnostic
Properties

often exhibits pisolitic structure, color

Chemical

variable but always rich in aluminum

Composition

oxides and aluminum hydroxides

Crystal System

n/a

Uses
Bauxite Used for Aluminum Production

Bauxite is the principal ore of aluminum. The first step in producing aluminum is to crush the bauxite and purify it using the Bayer Process.
In the Bayer Process the bauxite is washed in a hot solution of sodium hydroxide which leaches aluminum from the bauxite. The aluminum
is precipitated out of solution in the form of aluminum hydroxide, Al(OH)3. The aluminum hydroxide is then calcined to form alumina, Al2O3.
Aluminum is smelted from the alumina using the Hall-Heroult Process. In the Hall-Heroult Process the alumina is dissolved in a molten bath
of cryolite (Na3AlF6). Molten aluminum is removed from the solution by electrolysis. This process uses an enormous amount of electricity.
Aluminum is usually produced where electricity costs are very low.

Use of Bauxite as an Abrasive

Calcined alumina is a synthetic corundum, which is a very hard material (9 on the Mohs Hardness Scale). Calcined alumina is crushed,
separated by size and used as an abrasive. Aluminum oxide sandpaper, polishing powders and polishing suspensions are made from
calcined alumina.
Sintered bauxite is often used as an sand-blasting abrasive. It is produced by crushing bauxite to a powder and then fusing it into spherical
beads at very high temperature. These beads are very hard and very durable. The beads are then sorted by size for use in different types
of sandblasting equipment and for different sandblasting applications. Their round shape reduces wear on the delivery equipment.

Use of Bauxite as a Proppant

Sintered bauxite is also used as an oil field proppant. In drilling for oil and natural gas the reservoir rock is often fractured by pumping fluids
into the well under very high pressures. The pressure builds up to very high levels that cause the reservoir rock to fracture. When fracturing
occurs water and suspended particles, known as "proppants" rush into the fractures and push them open. When the pumps are turned off
the fractures close trapping the proppant particles in the reservoir. If an adequate number of crush-resistant particles remain in the reservoir
the fractures will be "propped" open allowing for a flow of oil or natural gas out of the rocks and into the well. This process is known
as hydraulic fracturing.
Powdered bauxite can be fused into tiny beads at very high temperatures. These beads have a very high crush resistance and that makes
them suitable as a proppant. They can be produced in almost any size and in a range of specific gravity. The specific gravity of the beads
and their size can be matched to the viscosity of the hydraulic fracturing fluid and to the size of fractures that are expected to develop in the
rock. Manufactured proppants provide a wide selection of grain size and specific gravity compared to a natural proppant known as frac
sand.

Substitutes for Bauxite

World bauxite resources are adequate for decades of production at current rates. Other materials could be used instead of bauxite for
alumina production. Clay minerals, alunite, anorthosite, power plant ash and oil shale could be used to produce alumina but at higher costs,

using different processes. Silicon carbide could be used in place of bauxite-based abrasives. Synthetic mullite could be used in place of
bauxite-based refractories.

Bauxite Localities

Estimated Bauxite
Production
(Thousand Metric Tons)
Country
2010
Australia
68,414
China
44,000
Brazil
28,100
India
18,000
Guinea
17,400
Jamaica
8,540
Russia
5,475
Kazakhstan
5,310
Suriname
4,000
Greece
2,500
The values above are estimated bauxite
production for 2010. Data from the
USGS Mineral Commodity Summary.

Bauxite is found in abundance at many locations around the world. In 2010 the ten leading bauxite producing countries were: Australia,
China, Brazil, India, Guinea, Jamaica, Russia, Kazakhstan, Suriname and Greece. Each of these countries has enough reserves for many
years of continued production. Some have reserves for over 100 years of production.
The United States has small amounts of bauxite in Arkansas, Alabama and Georgia; however, there is very little mining of bauxite in the
United States and at least 99% of consumption is imported.
Contributor: Hobart King

Bauxite mining

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Why aluminium
Everyday life
Aluminium life cycle
Production steps
Bauxite mining
Alumina refining
Primary production
Fabrication
Recycling

How its made

Innovation in aluminium
Aluminium and health

About 7 percent of the earths crust is aluminium, making it the third-most

abundant element after oxygen and silicon. Aluminium production starts with the
raw material bauxite.

Bauxite is a mineral found mostly in a belt around the equator. Bauxite, containing 15-25 percent
aluminium, is the only ore that is used for commercial extraction of aluminium today.
The bauxite occurs mostly in the tropics, in horizontal layers normally beneath a few meters of
overburden. The layers are usually mixed with various clay minerals, iron oxides and titanium
dioxide. It is the iron that gives bauxite a deep red color.

How much bauxite is there?

Known reserves of bauxite are around 29 billion metric tons. At the current rate of extraction, these
reserves will last more than 100 years.
When we include undiscovered bauxite resources, this number is estimated at 55-75 billion metric
tons.
This extends the time perspective to 250-340 years.

Bauxite mining in million metric tons per year

Other aluminium ores

The aluminium industry is also preparing to use ores other than bauxite in the future. Research to
develop extraction processes from other minerals is ongoing, and in the future we envision using
more recycled metal, from buildings, for example.

World production (right) and reserves (left) of bauxite

How do we get bauxite from the mines?

Bauxite is usually covered by an overburden of several meters of rock and clay, which must be
removed before the bauxite can be recovered.
Then, the bauxite is transported to crushing or washing plants, before it is transported for
processing.
The clay is then usually deposited in tailing ponds. After its use, these tailing ponds are replanted
using local species to re-establish natural vegetation.

How much does bauxite mining affect the environment?

Because the bauxite is located close to the surface, mining disrupts the surface.
Every year, the worldwide use of new land related to bauxite mining is 40-50 square kilometers.
However, after the mining operations have been completed in one area, it is normally re-vegetated
with local species.

Environmental issues caused by bauxite mining

Change of landscape and impact on biodiversity: Removal and reestablishment of vegetation

Control of erosion and run off from the mine the landscape being affected
when rock and soil are removed
Disturbance of hydrology the movement, quality and distribution of water.
Waste disposal
Dust and noise caused by mining operations and transport
When new areas are opened, this can provide access to illegal logging,
hunting, etc.
On average, one square meter of land is mined (including roads and infrastructure) in order to
produce one metric ton of aluminium metal.

What do we do about it?

Most bauxite mining companies have subscribed to voluntary improvement programs, involving land
rehabilitation, for example.
A survey covering the period 2002-2006, showed that the land rehabilitation equaled the land being
mined during the period. The mines in the survey included 66 percent of the worlds bauxite
production.

Mining in tropic forest areas

The health of the ecosystems, preserving variation of life forms, is one of the worlds top
environmental issues.
The tropical forest areas are among the most threatened areas.
The aluminium industry is a minor player in the greater picture:

The global rate of destruction of tropical forests = 80,000 km 2per year.

20% of the 40-50 km2 annual land taken by bauxite mining is in tropical forest
areas.
These 8 km2 = 0.01% of the annual loss of tropical forest due to other
causes.
Considering the rehabilitation programs, where we aim at no net loss of forests, the influence is even
less. Most of the tropical forest areas were already impacted by for example logging before bauxite
mining started.

Replanting in Paragominas
Hydro is the majority owner in the Paragominas bauxite mine in Brazil. Paragominas is located in the
deforestation belt around the Amazon River, and this is one of the places where reforestation is put
into practice.
2006: Bauxite extraction started in Paragominas
2009: Reforestation program started
2017: Our goal is to level out land impacted by mining and land rehabilitated by 2017.
The landscape is systematically shaped back to how it looked before mining. The topsoil is then
added and seedlings are planted in a grid in the areas prepared. The seedlings grow into a forest
similar to the natural forest in the areas.

Updated: January 21, 2013

Related documents

Aluminium, environment and society (PDF / 5,9 MB)

External links

Mining and refining (The International Aluminium Institute)

Mining process (The International Aluminium Institute)
Mining - case studies
2013 Norsk Hydro ASA

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Lesson 3
Topic Bauxite mining in Jamaica and Guyana
Objective
Students should be able:
Lesson Notes
Bauxite is a non-renewable resource. It is weathered, clayey limestone rocks
and is reddish in color. Alumina and aluminum are derived from bauxite.
The bauxite industry is divided into three stages:
1. The mining of bauxite
2. The processing and preparation of bauxite into alumina, aluminum and
pure aluminum oxide.
3. The conversion of alumina or the melting of aluminum oxide into
aluminum. This stage takes place in developed industrialized countries
so the Caribbean exports either processed bauxite or processed
alumina.
Stage # is not carried out in the Caribbean for the following reasons:
a. Lack of technological development
b. Lack of energy requirements
c. Lack of man power/labor
FACTORS INFUENCING THE GROWTH
JAMAICAS BAUXITE INDUSTRY

AND

DEVELOPMENT

OF

1. SURFACE DEPOSITS
- Are easily accessible
- Found in pockets close to the surface (10 to 50 m) in limestone
areas.
- Mined in the central western part of Jamaica.

2. Commercial reserves
- Jamaica is the 4th largest known bauxites reserve in the world.
- About 2 billion tones of bauxite or 114 years worth of mining
capacity.
- These commercial reserves attract a number of foreign companies
e.g. Alcan and Reynolds
3. Limestone rocks
- Is available for the local processing of alumina.
4. World demand and production
- The alumina industry is one of the fastest expanding industries.
- USA is the largest producer and user of aluminum
- JA closest to the USA.
BENEFITS OF THE INDUSTRY TO JAMAICA
1. Foreign Exchange
Bauxite and aluminum account for 60% of the islands foreign
exchange. This doubles what is received from the tourist industry.
2. Employment
- Is not a large scale employer
- Accounts for 1% of the labor force but increased wages have
resulted in increased standard of living.
3. Ancillary industries
- Industries using the metal as raw material have been established
e.g. manufacturing of tin cans, wires, plates and foil.
STAGES OF MINING IN JAMAIICA
Bauxite deposits lie close to the surface and as a result, the open-pit method
is used to mine the bauxite. Deposits vary in depth, 10m- 50m.
1. After the deposits are located, the top 3om of top soil is removed.
2. The bauxite is ore is scooped out with the power shovels and drag likes
as strip mining and open-pit mining are undertaken.
3. The ore is then transported by trucks, conveyor belts, rails and aerial
transway to smelting plants.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
The mining of bauxite and the processing of alumina generate dust and other
waste products which include gases, liquid effluents (waste) and red mud.
1. Steam is emitted into the atmosphere which contains caustic aerosol
which creates an odor, corrosion problems and health hazards.
2. Sulphur and nitrogen gases are emitted into the atmosphere also.
3. Red mud is produced when alumina is extracted from bauxite. The
mud is washed and pumped into containment areas (red mud ponds)
near to the bauxite plants.
4. The natural beauty of the land is also destroyed due to open-pit
mining.

SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS

1. Dust emission is controlled by wet scrubbers (using a fine spray of
water to remove dust suspended in the exhaust gases). Wind breakers
are planted near residential areas to trap dust emission.
2. New disposal systems for red mud have been developed. The mud is
spread in thin layers on impermeable beds and solar dried so as to
reduce infiltration and pollution of underground water.
3. The mined land is restored and some areas have been put into
agricultural use. The used pits are smoothed and the topsoil is spread
over it and grasses are grown for grazing of animals (pastures are
created over the used pits). Crops such yams, bananas and peas are
also planted.
4. Residents near the bauxite deposits are relocated.
5. To curb noise pollution, cable conveyor belts are used. They are
coated with polyurethane and other sound deafening devices to reduce
noise pollution.
6.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS:

The exact effects of bauxite mining are quite specific to the site. It nearly always involves some
habitat destruction, soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, or water pollution. These effects can be
reasonably short term, and followed by regrowth, or severe and permanent.

Since some of the countries with the most bauxite are also those countries with the greatest
biodiversity in tropical forests there can be a substantial trade off between immediate economic gain
and good sustainable practices . Unsurprisingly most countries opt for the immediate economic gain of
extracting the bauxite as quickly as possible.
Habitat destruction, especially of rainforests, may be the most obvious impact of bauxite mining but it
is not the only one. It is not even necessarily the greatest as most bauxite mining is not done in
rainforests.
Open cast mining involves the removal of the top layer of soil in order to get at the ores underneath.
The resultant soil erosion means that it may be very difficult for vegetation, whether natural or crops,
to re-establish itself. This is especially the case if the removed soil is not replaced soon after the
mining operation is finished. Some mining companies have a better record of minimising soil erosion
than others.
The deforestation and soil erosion can lead to problems associated with flooding, including wastewater
being swept into the drinking supply. Associated aluminium refineries, which produce the end product,
can render the drinking water supply hazardous. In some cases, usually in colder regions such as
Hungary, the mining may be deep enough to interfere with the water table.
Just how destructive bauxite mining will be depends a great deal on the location and how responsible
the company concerned is. In the worst cases it can wreck the environment and the lives of local
people. In the best cases the land can recover fairly well afterwards.
This of course doesnt take into full account the environmental cost of refining the ore to turn it into
aluminium, which can be equally, if not more, devastating. Bringing the whole thing on to a personal
level, these are some very good reasons to recycle. Or, preferably, not buy aluminium cans in the first
place.
Further reading
http://www.world-aluminium.org/?pg=76
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jun/13/mining-aluminium-tribes-india-jagger
http://www.bauxietinstituut.com/files/Environmental%20problems%20related%20to%20bauxite
%20mining%20and%20processing-Paul%20Ouboter.pdf

More about this author: Judith Willson

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