Bauxite (Aluminum)
Bauxite is a sedimentary rock with a high aluminum content. It is the world's main source of aluminum and is largely mined in tropical and sub-tropical regions such as Australia, South America and India.
Fun facts
Does not rust
Since aluminum doesn’t contain iron, aluminum doesn’t rust
The world's most abundant metal
8.2% of the Earth’s crust
Resistant to heat
Solid to liquid state when exposed to 660 degrees Celcius
Ductile
Low ductility makes it ideal for forming and moulding applications when compared to metals with higher ductility
What is Aluminum?
Symbol Al
Atomic number 13
Density is one-third of steel
Resembles silver with colour and ability to reflect light
Light, durable and functional
Aluminum is a key engineering material
What are its uses?
Fences
Electronics
Cans
Foils
Airplane parts
Good electrical conductor
Electrical transmission lines
Aluminum is used instead of copper since it's cheaper and twice as good as a conductor. It is one of the most versatile materials and will continue to be a vital part of everyday life.
Why Canada?
Canada produced an estimated 3.12 million tonnes of aluminum in 2020
Canada is the world's fourth-largest aluminum producer after China, India and Russia
Aluminum producers in Canada have the lowest carbon footprint in the world in comparison to other large producers
How is aluminum mined?
Mining
Surface methods where topsoil is removed by bulldozers
Underlying bauxite is mined by front-end loaders, power shovels or hydraulic excavators
Cleaning
Some bauxite ores are crushed
Others are treated after crushing by washing to remove some of the clay
Drying/shipping
Then it is dried in rotary kilns
The ore is loaded into trucks to be transported to ships
Smelters and Refineries in Canada!
Rio Tinto:
Rio Tinto is a multi-national metals and mining company that carries out the mining, exploration, and processing of various mineral resources. It supplies a range of minerals and metals, including aluminum, diamonds, gold and iron ore.
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