Bauxite

What is Bauxite
Bauxite is not amineral. It is arockformed 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
Composition
Bauxite does not have a specific composition.

It is a mixture of hydrous aluminum oxides,

aluminum hydroxides, clay minerals and
insoluble materials such asquartz,hematite,
magnetite,sideriteand 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 lowspecific
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

continued...
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 Composition

variable but always rich in aluminum oxides and aluminum hydroxides

Crystal System
Uses

n/a

How do we get bauxite from the

mines?

Bauxite from mines continued.

Bauxite is usually covered by an overburden

of several meters of rock and clay, which must

be removed beforethe 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.

Uses of Bauxite

There are three (3) uses of bauxite:

1) Aluminum Production
2) As an Abrasive
3) As a proppant

Aluminum Production
Bauxite is the principal ore of aluminum. Thefirst stepin 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 ofaluminum hydroxide, Al(OH)3.
The aluminum hydroxide is then calcined to form alumina, Al 2O3.
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.

As an Abrasive
Calcined alumina is a syntheticcorundum, which is a very hard
material (9 on theMohs Hardness Scale). Calcined alumina is
crushed, separated by size and used as an abrasive.
Aluminum oxide sandpaper,polishing powdersand 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.

As a Proppant
Sintered bauxite is also used as an oil field proppant. In drilling for
oil and natural gasthe 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 ashydraulic 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 asfrac
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 andoil shale
could be used to produce alumina but at
higher costs, using different processes.
Silicon carbidecould be used in place of
bauxite-based abrasives. Synthetic mullite
could be used in place of bauxite-based
refractories.

Bauxite Localities
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.

Estimated Bauxite Production(Thousand

Metric Tons)
COUNTRY
Australia

2010
68,414

China

44000

Brazil

28100

India

18000

Guinea

17400

Jamaica

8540

Russia

5475

Kazakhstan

5310

Suriname

4000

Greece

2500

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
Changeof landscape and impact on biodiversity: Removal and re-establishment
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.
Habitat destruction.

Solutions to bauxite
mining
Most bauxite mining companies have

subscribed to voluntary improvement

programs, involving land rehabilitation.

Mining in tropic forest

areas
Mining in tropic forest areas
Thehealthof the ecosystems, preservingvariation oflifeforms, 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 km2annual 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.

Bauxite Mining In
Jamaica
Bauxite is a clay like substance, reddish in colour

in which alumina and aluminum are derived from.

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 stages takes
place in developed industrialized countries, so
the Caribbean exports other processed bauxite or
processed alumina.

Stage 1,2 and 3 is not carried out in the

Caribbean for the following reasons:

a) Lack of technological development
b) Lack of energy
c) Lack of man power/ labor.

Factors Influencing The Growth And

Development Of Jamaicas Bauxite Industry
1)Surface DepositsAre 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 rocksIs 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 ExchangeBauxite and aluminum account for 60% of the
islands foreign exchange. This doubles what
is received from the tourist industry.
2)EmploymentIs not a large scale employer
Accounts for 1% of the labor force but
increased wages have resulted in increased
standard of living.

Benefits Of The Industry continued..

3) Ancillary industries
Industries using the metal as raw material

have been established e.g. manufacturing of

tin cans, wires, plates and foilThe 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.

Stages Of Mining In
Jamaica
Bauxite deposits lie close to the surface and as
a result, the open put method is used to mine
the bauxite. Deposits vary in depth 10m-50m.
1) After the deposits are located, the top 30m
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.

Solutions continued
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