Bauxite is a rock formed from a laterite soil that has been

severely leached of silica and other soluble materials in a wet

tropical or subtropical climate. It is a primary ore of aluminum,
almost all the aluminum that has ever been produced has been
extracted from bauxite. Bauxite is a non-renewable resource.
Bauxite does not have a specific composition; it is a mixture of
hydrous aluminum oxides, aluminum hydroxide, clay minerals
and insoluble materials such as quartz, hematite, magnetite,
siderite and goethite. The aluminum minerals in bauxite can
include; gibbsite AL(OH)3, boehmite ALO(OH) and diaspore
ALO(OH).Bauxite is typically a soft (H: 1-3) white to gray to
reddish brown material with a pisolitic structure, earthy luster
and a low specific gravity 2.0 -2.5, these properties are useful
for identifying bauxite, however they have nothing to do with
bauxite value or usefulness.

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.
The first step in 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 of aluminum hydroxide
AL(OH)3.The aluminum hydroxide is then calcined to form
alumina AL2 O3. Aluminum is smelted from the alumina using
the Hall Heroult Process. In the 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 synthetic corundum
which is a very hard material (9 on the Mohs Hardness Scale).
Calcined alumina is crushed, separated by size and used as an
abrasive. Aluminum oxide sandpaper, polishing powders and
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 an Proppant- Sintered bauxite is also used as an oil field
proppant. In drilling for oil and natural gas the 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 as hydraulic 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
as frac 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 and oil shale could be
used to produce alumina but at higher costs, using different
processes. Silicon carbide could be used in place of bauxitebased abrasives. Synthetic mullite could be used in place of
bauxite-based refractories.

HOW DO WE GET BAUXITE FROM THE MINES

 Bauxite is usually covered by an overburden of several

meters of rock and clay, which must be removed before the
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.

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
Change of 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.

MINES IN TROPIC FOREST AREAS

Mining in tropic forest areas

The health of the ecosystems, preserving variation
of life forms, 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
km2per year.
20% of the 40-50 km2 annual 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 Deposits Are 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 rocks Is 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 Exchange Bauxite and aluminum account for 60% of the islands
foreign exchange. This doubles what is received from the
tourist industry.
2) Employment Is not a large scale employer
Accounts for 1% of the labor force but increased wages
have resulted in increased standard of living.
3) Ancillary industries
Industries using the metal as raw material have been
established e.g. manufacturing of tin cans, wires, plates
and foil. The 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.
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 noise pollution.