Bauxite is a very important aluminium ore therefore, it is very important for us because aluminium is used in various industries. It was discovered in 1821 and today it is found in a number of countries. In 2007 Australia emerged as the largest producer of bauxite. Moreover, bauxite is used in various industries like cement industry, soda cans, face makeup, siding of house, dishwashers and in making aluminium products. Bauxite can be recycled again and even a lot of money is needed to extract bauxite from its rocks still economies are spending a lot on its extraction.
A rock containing aluminium which is a lightweight metal used to make kitchen appliances and in building construction We used bauxite during the industrial revolution, also that has catapulted man to the information age.
The ore from which aluminium is produced is called Bauxite. In other words, it is the hydrated oxide of aluminium. The name of Bauxite was derived from the name of the town it was first discovered at. It was a ruined medieval town in the region of southeastern France called Les Baux.
The formation of bauxite is a somewhat chemical process. Sediments of bauxite are constituted as a result of decomposition of clays. This formation takes place under wet conditions. The colour of the ore varies on the basis of the proportion of iron content present in it. Bauxite could also be dirty white in colour (in the case of a low iron content) and sometimes it is reddish-brown in colour (this is when the iron content is high). The geographical regions where bauxite is found include the United States, southwestern Europe and also the northern part of South America.
Bauxite is a mineal ore comprised mostly of aluminium (Al. So not surprisingly, its main use is as the raw material in aluminium extraction and refinement.
The aluminium in bauxite is bound up in two different minerals: gibbsite: Al(OH)3; boehmite: AlO(OH) and diaspore: AlOOH. Bauxite also contains the iron oxides goethite and hematite, a clay mineral called kaolinite and small amounts of anatase (TiO2).
Bauxite is named after the French village, Les Baux-de-Provence, near to where it was first identified and described in 1821, by geologist Henri Rouvère.
To get Al out of bauxite it is put in a solution of sodium hydroxide, heated up, and filtered out (as aluminate).
Of all countries, Australia and Brazil mine the most bauxite. Guinea, in West Africa is believed to still have the largest reserves of bauxite.
Aluminium is used in the manufacture of a large number of products, including cars, cameras, cooking vessels, drink cans, artificial gemstones, windows and many other things.
Bauxite is also the most abundant mineral on earth's surface. Also, it is very important because deodorant is made from it. Imagine the world without that!!!
