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

Context: Medha Patkar and activists were stopped by Odisha Police while heading to Rayagada for a World Environment Day meeting on bauxite mining.

Aluminium Ore

Bauxite is the main ore for aluminium, with nearly all aluminium produced from it. Bauxite is not a mineral, it’s a rock made mostly of aluminium-bearing minerals and forms when laterite soils lose silica in wet climates. Its composition varies, including hydrous aluminium oxides and clay minerals. Bauxite is soft and usually white to grey, sometimes stained by iron. It has an earthy lustre and low specific gravity (2.0 to 2.5).

To produce aluminium, bauxite is crushed and purified through the Bayer Process, which uses sodium hydroxide to extract aluminium. The aluminium hydroxide is then heated to form alumina, which is smelted using the Hall-Heroult Process, requiring a lot of electricity. Most aluminium in the U.S. is produced in Canada, where electricity costs are low.

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. It takes 6 tonnes of bauxite to produce 1 tonne of aluminium. The aluminium industry is energy-intensive, with power costs making up 30-35% of total expenses, so affordable electricity is essential.

There is a shortage of primary aluminium to meet rising demand, which has increased by over 1 million tonnes a year, while production stays steady at about 0.5 million tonnes. Since this industry needs lots of power, finding suitable locations in India is challenging.

What is Bauxite?

• Bauxite is a sedimentary rock with a relatively high aluminium content.
• Appearance: Reddish-brown, gray, or yellow,
• Mainly found in: Tropical and subtropical regions
• Usage: Its ore is important for the production of aluminium metal.
  • Approximately 90% of the world’s bauxite is processed to produce alumina (aluminium oxide).

Major Bauxite Mines and Reserves

India

• Odisha (including Rayagada, where bauxite mining controversies have occurred).
• Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Jharkhand.

Global Reserves

• Guinea: Leading the world in bauxite reserves and production.
• Australia: Second largest producer of bauxite.
• China: Heavily reliant on bauxite for its large aluminum industry
• Brazil: Significant bauxite reserves in the Amazon basin.

Aluminium Ore Distribution in the World

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

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 percent 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.

Advantages of Aluminium Ore

• 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.

Uses of Aluminium

• 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.
• Modern electricity production and distribution (good conductor).
• Household utensils and electric appliances.
• Aircraft manufacturing and rail coaches.
• Nuclear and defense equipment.

Other Details about Aluminium Ore

Aluminium’s Importance:

• Critical strategic metal for India’s economy.
• The second most important industry after iron and steel.

Growth:

• Fastest-growing metal, nearly 20 times growth in 60 years (compared to 6-7 times for other metals).
• Created over 800,000 jobs in related sectors and over 4,000 small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Bauxite Reserves:

• India ranks seventh in the world for bauxite reserves, the primary raw material for aluminium.

National Mineral Exploration Trust:

• Established to boost aluminium production and ensure raw material availability for industries.

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.

Sharing is caring!