Bauxite

Bauxite is a sedimentary rock with a relatively high aluminium content. It is the world’s main source of aluminium. Bauxite is primarily comprised of aluminum oxide compounds (alumina), silica, iron oxides and titanium dioxide.

 

More than 160 million metric tons of bauxite are mined each year. The leaders in bauxite production include Australia, China, Brazil, India and Guinea.

SRP Minerals Bauxite

Applications of Bauxite

Metallurgy

  • Bauxite is the best and only material for making aluminum.
  • There are several process like Bayer Process and Hall-Heroult Process involved in extraction of aluminium from bauxite. And once extracted, aluminium and aluminium based alloys are used extensively in electronics, construction, vehicles and even in utensils.

Industries

  • Bauxite is used in a lot of industries like the chemical industry, refractory, abrasive, cement, steel, and petrol industry amongst others.
  • In chemical, bauxite along with alumina is used in the manufacturing of aluminium chemicals.
  • In refractory, it is used as a raw material for making several products.
  • Bauxite is the main constituent material in airplane making industry, electric industry, machinery and civil tool making industry.
  • It is also used as an desiccating agent, adsorbent, catalyst and in the manufacture of dental cements.

In Building Material and Road Aggregates

  • Lateritic bauxite is often used as building material when no other materials are available.
  • Calcined bauxite is used by construction companies as an anti skid road aggregate which is used in selected areas to prevent accidents.

Other Uses

  • Bauxite has limited uses but wide application of paper making, water purifying, and petroleum refining.
  • Additionally, Bauxite is also used is some other sectors like rubber, plastic, paint and cosmetics.