Bauxite

Bauxite is a sedimentary rock with relatively high amounts of aluminum, which is obtained from aluminum after processing. In other words, this stone is the most important source of aluminum. It includes giebsite, boehmite and diaspore minerals, which are mixed with two iron oxides, goethite and hematite clay mineral kaolinite and small amounts of anatase and elemenite. The specific weight is between 2 and 2.5 newtons per square meter. Also, another feature is its very low hardness on a scale between 1 and 3 mos.

Types

Bauxite exist in some different types, but there was no consensus for these categories until 1982, when a researcher named Vedas separated “laterite bauxite” (silicate bauxite) from “karst”. Laterite bauxite are mainly found in tropical countries. These types are formed by applying the laterization process of silicate rocks such as granite, basalt, gneiss, syenite and shale. Compared to iron-rich laterites, the formation is more related to severe weathering conditions with rich water bed. These conditions cause kaolinite to come out of the rock as sediment and gypsum to penetrate into product. Areas with a high percentage of aluminum are mainly located under a layer of iron oxide

Bauxite Applications

Bauxite using a lot to producing aluminum. It is also uses in extraction of gallium. It is the main source of the rare element gallium. During the process of extracting alumina from bauxite in the Bayer process, gallium accumulates in the molten sodium hydroxide. Due to its low hardness, It is used as a suitable pulp lubricant in steel making and is a suitable and cheaper alternative to fluorine.

By “sintering” product, a suitable abrasive material for sand blasting processes can be obtained. It is produced by crushing, pulverizing and agglomerating it at high temperature. These agglomerates are used to reduce wear in sand blast parts. Refractory cement is obtained by mixing lime with an equal proportion. Alumina and silica form mullite, which increases the melting point.