Aluminium Ore, Bauxite Mining, Uses, Properties, Distribution Map

Fight Against Bauxite Mining in Odisha: Latest Update

The bauxite belt in southern Odisha’s Eastern Ghats is seeing an escalation of interest in mining, with the government auctioning sites to private companies processing it into aluminium”. The Vedanta Group has proposed to excavate 9 million tonnes of bauxite ore per annum from the Sijimali bauxite deposit site, which covers an area of 1,549.022 hectares. The mine would contribute ₹2,511.6 crore per annum to the State and Central government exchequers by way of mining revenue. However, there is a concern that the excavation of the bauxite deposit site, which is known to store water, will have a negative impact on the lives of the local population.

It is important to weigh the pros and cons of the proposed excavation before making a decision. On the one hand, the mine would generate revenue for the government and create jobs. On the other hand, it could harm the local people and damage the environment.

Aluminium Ore

Bauxite is the principal ore of Aluminium. From bauxite, alumina is extracted and from alumina, aluminium is extracted. Aluminum is a good conductor of electricity. It is highly malleable. Bauxite (raw material) is bulky, and it is preferable to remove moisture and impurities before transporting its ore over long distances in order to achieve economic production.

The industry is power intensive, with power accounting for 30 to 35% of total production costs. As a result, power at reasonable prices is required. Primary metal is in short supply to meet the demands of primary sectors. Domestic demand has increased by more than 1 million tonnes per year, while production has remained stable at around 0.5 million tonnes. Because this is an electricity-intensive industry, the primary requirement is optimal sites, which are not available in India.

Read More: Copper Ore

Aluminium Ore Bauxite Mining

Aluminium Ore Bauxite (raw material) is bulky, and it is preferable to remove moisture and impurities before transporting its ore over long distances in order to achieve economic production. 6 tonnes of bauxite are required to produce 1 tonne of aluminium (which produces two tones of aluminium). The industry is power intensive, with power accounting for 30 to 35% of total production costs. As a result, power at reasonable prices is required.

Primary metal is in short supply to meet the demands of primary sectors. Domestic demand has increased by more than 1 million tonnes per year, while production has remained stable at around 0.5 million tonnes. Because this is an electricity-intensive industry, the primary requirement is optimal sites, which are not available in India.

Read about: Iron Ore

Aluminium Ore Distribution in World

Most bauxite deposits are located in tropical and subtropical regions. There are many rocks in these regions that are rich in aluminium silicates. Australia, China, and Guinea are the top three bauxite-producing countries.

Read More: Manganese Ore

Aluminium Distribution in India

1. Odisha

Odisha is India’s largest bauxite-producing state, accounting for more than half of total production. The state’s total recoverable reserves are estimated to be 1,370.5 million tonnes. The main bauxite belt is in the districts of Kalahandi and Koraput, and it extends into Andhra Pradesh.

2. Jharkhand

Jharkhand has been estimated to have 63.5 million tonnes of recoverable bauxite reserves of all grades. These reserves are spread across Ranchi, Lohardaga, Palamu, and Gumla districts. Bauxite can also be found in the districts of Dumka and Munger. Lohardaga and surrounding areas have high-grade ore.

3. Maharashtra

Maharashtra accounts for approximately 10% of total bauxite production in India. The state’s total recoverable reserves are estimated to be in the order of 87.7 million tonnes. The largest deposits are found in the Kolhapur district, where the plateau basalts are capped. In the Kolhapur district, rich deposits with alumina content ranging from 52 to 89 per cent can be found in Udgeri, Dhangarwadi, Radhanagari, and Inderganj.

4. Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh produces more than 6% of India’s bauxite. The Maikala range in Bilaspur, Durg districts, and the Amarkantak plateau regions of Surguja, Raigarh, and Bilaspur have rich bauxite deposits.

5. Madhya Pradesh

The main producers in Madhya Pradesh are the Amarkantak plateau area, the Maikala range in the Shahdol, Mandla, and Balaghat districts, and the Kotni area of Jabalpur district. Andhra Pradesh (Vishakhapatnam, East Godavari, and West Godavari), Kerala (Kannur, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram), Rajasthan (Kota), Uttar Pradesh (Banda, Lalitpur, and Varanasi), Jammu and Kashmir (Jammu, Poonch, and Udhampur), and Goa also have some bauxite.

Read about: Chromium Ore

Aluminium Advantages

• Aluminium is a versatile metal that has several advantages, including being lightweight and flexible.
• It can be cast, melted, formed, machined, and extruded into a variety of shapes and then fabricated to suit a wide range of applications.
• Because of their lightweight, corrosion resistance, and ease of fabrication, aluminium sheets are the preferred material for projects such as vehicle panelling, artwork, building cladding, and kitchen fitting, among others.
• Despite popular belief, aluminium is completely recyclable and retains all of its original properties during the recycling process.
• Using recycled metal during production is more cost-effective than using prime metal mined from the ground, so as much recycled material as possible is used.

Read More: Cobalt Ore

Aluminium Uses

• It is used in manufacturing aircraft, automobiles, rail wagons, ships, and machinery.
• It is used in the manufacturing of domestic appliances and utensils.
• It is also used to fabricate doors, windows, and screens.
• Aluminium can be rolled into thin sheets called aluminium foils. These are used for wrapping and packaging food.

Read More: Types of Resources

Aluminium Ore Industries

Aluminium is a critical strategic metal for the Indian economy. Aluminium is the second most important industry after iron and steel. Aluminium is used in modern electricity production and distribution (it is a good conductor of electricity), household utensils and electric appliances, aircraft manufacturing, rail coaches, nuclear and defence accessories, and so on.

It’s also metal with the fastest growth, with a nearly 20-fold increase in the last 60 years (compared to 6 to 7 times for other metals). It directly and indirectly created over 8 lakh jobs in the downstream sector, as well as over 4000 SMEs.In terms of the Bauxite reserve base, India ranks seventh in the world.

Bauxite is the primary raw material used in the production of aluminium. The National Mineral Exploration Trust was set up to ensure an increase in aluminium production and to make the required volume of raw materials available to the industries.

Read about: Energy Resources

Aluminium Ore UPSC

Aluminium, a lightweight silvery-white metal, is the most abundant and one of the least expensive metals on the planet. The Indian aluminium industry is highly concentrated, with India ranking second in the world in terms of output. It accounts for nearly 5.3 per cent of global aluminium output, with the top five companies accounting for the vast majority of output. Despite rising demand, India’s aluminium industry is thriving at a breakneck pace. This article will explain the Aluminium Industries, which will help you prepare for the UPSC Civil Service Exam in Geography.

Read More: Minerals

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