What is the bauxite mining and beneficiation process like?
In general bauxite is extracted by open cast mining in bands or strips, with removal of the topsoil. The process involves the following stages: careful removal of the vegetation and cleaning off of the area; storing of the topsoil (for reuse when the area is rehabilitated); removal of a strata of soil; initial breaking down of the ore’s structure; excavation and loading; ore transport; crushing to reduce size; washing the ore; transport from the plant to the place where it will be shipped out (port); storing and loading on the ship. With regard to the tailings produced in the crushing and washing the steps are: disposal of the tailings, remodeling the terrain; rehabilitation of the mined areas and monitoring. Bauxite beneficiation is the first phase in the primary aluminum industrial process and involves no chemical transformation of the ore, i.e. the concentrate has the same minerals (hydrated aluminum oxides, aluminum silicates, silica etc.) as those found in the subsoil.
Generally speaking, bauxite is extracted by open-cast strip mining, after removal of the overburden. The process contains the following stages: removal of the vegetation cover and cleaning up of the area; storage of the organic topsoil (for reuse in subsequently rehabilitating the area); removal of the overburden; prior restructuring of the ore; excavation and loading; transportation of the ore; crushing, to reduce size; washing of the ore and transportation from the plant to the dispatch location (port); storing and loading the ship. This process involves no chemical transformation of the ore whatsoever, in other words, the concentrate contains the same minerals in its composition (aluminum hydroxide, aluminum silicates, silica etc.) as are found in the subsoil.
