Matalic Mineral: BAUXITE

BAUXITE The only ore from which aluminium is extracted is called 'bauxite', which is not a IJJineral but an aggregate chiefly, of gibbsite, boehmite and a little of kaolinite. Bauxite is a secondary product in between monohydrate diaspore and trihydrate gibbsite, i.e., be­tween AlP3Hp and A12033H2O. Thus it is a generic term for rock rich in hydrous aluminium oxide (AlP32HP). The bauxite ore has a typical oolitic or pisolitic structure and it is found in an amorphous form. Presence of about 50 per cent Al203 is considered to be the lower limit for good commercial bauxite.

Economic Uses Bauxite is used in the manufacture of alum, aluminous sulphates and other chemicals; the construction of airplanes, automobiles, electrical appliances, etc; and the manufacture of containers, utensils and ma­chineries.

Distribution in the World Major bauxite producing countries in the world are Australia, Guin~a, Jamaica, Brazil, Surinam Yugoslavia, and the state of Arkansas in USA China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey and India also contrib­ute small amounts.

Distribution in India Bauxite is associated with laterite rocks occurring extensively as blankets or cappings either on the plateau or hill ranges of peninsular India or in certain low level laterites in the inland area or in coastal tracts of the country. It is a result of the residual weathering process which leads to leaching of the silica.

The bauxite deposits are mainly spread over the Eastern Ghats. A statewise survey of bauxite reserves is given below.

Madhya Pradesh Nearly 30% of the country's prodlIC­tion of bauxite comes from Madhya Pradesh. Bauxite deposits here are found in Amarkantak plateau in Shahdot district, Maikala hills and the plateau region of Sarguja­Bilaspur- Raigarh-Katni.

Bihar In Bihar, bauxite deposits occur in Ranchi and Palamau.

Gujarat Here, bauxite is found in Jamnagar, Kaira, Sabarkantha, Surat and Kachchh.

Kamataka In Karnataka, bauxite reserves are found in Belgaum.

Maharashtra Kolaba, Kolhapur and Ratnagiri in Mahar.ashtra have copper reserves.

Tamil Nadu Here, bauxite is found in Salem, Nilgiri, Coimbatore and Madurai.

Uttar Pradesh Bauxite is extracted in Uttar Pradesh in Banda.

Jammu and Kashmir Here, high grade bauxite deposits are found in Poonch and Udhampur.