Where and how is aluminum mined?

How diamonds are mined: how mining occurs and how stones are found, where in the world diamonds are mined, which country is the leader in diamond production

Diamonds are one of the most valuable minerals. It is from these that “girls’ best friends” are made – diamonds. However, the path from a raw mineral to a precious stone is quite long. To understand how rare and valuable this material is, you need to have a good understanding of not only how this nugget is formed in nature, but also how diamonds are mined.

Field development is a task that requires serious preparation and financial investment. However, this is only the first step in the process of transforming a natural gem into one of the most expensive stones in the world.

 Where do diamonds come from?

Scientists have still not come to a consensus regarding the process of formation of the strongest mineral. There are several scientific theories about this.

According to the first theory, rough diamonds were formed more than 100 million years ago at a depth of at least 100 km. It was there that optimal conditions were created for the transformation of carbon into solid rock with a different form of crystal lattice, namely high temperature (from 1100 ° C), pressure (at least 35 kilobars) and a homogeneous environment with the absence of a temperature gradient.

As a result of volcanic activity, minerals were brought to the surface. Proof of this is the geography of most deposits (bottom oceans, places near faults in the earth’s crust), as well as their appearance (diamond-bearing pipes), directed vertically upward. Over time, the kimberlites were exposed to water and air and water and eroded, and the rock crumbled, forming “diamond fields.”

The second version of the answer to the question of where diamonds came from was meteorites. During the study and analysis of their composition, tiny particles of diamond crystals were discovered, which led scientists to think about the formation of the mineral during the collision of a celestial body with the earth's surface. Such deposits are called impact deposits.

In the universe there is a white dwarf - the star Lucy, whose core consists of pure diamond. Its diameter is about 4 thousand kilometers, and scientists still cannot calculate its weight in carats.

Extraction methods

Even at the beginning of the 19th century, diamond mining was carried out using a shovel and trays on which river sand was washed and the most promising stones were selected. The modern method is mechanized and often depends on the depth of the rock.

Be sure to check out: How to clean a diamond at home

Career

The quarries extract minerals located at a depth of no more than 600 meters. The process of their extraction is quite simple. First, a well is drilled, after which it is mined and exploded. The rock thrown to the surface is sent to processing plants, where valuable minerals are selected.

Important! This method refers to medium-cost options.

Mine

Mine mining technology is more complex and dangerous. However, this is the most common way to discover new diamond deposits. It is not for nothing that the miner’s profession is considered one of the most labor-intensive and dangerous in the world. At great depths, it is necessary to constantly monitor the oxygen level, pump out groundwater, and beware of gas explosions.

The rock is mined using special crushing combines, then it is loaded into trolleys and delivered to the surface. And from there it is delivered to enrichment factories.

Placers

Alluvial deposits are becoming increasingly rare in the modern world. Most of them were discovered and developed in past centuries. Extraction is carried out in the classical way by washing through large sieves.

Top diamond mining countries

Diamond gemstones are mined all over the world. India was considered the most famous miner of precious ore in the last century. This is where almost all the largest and most famous diamonds come from.

Today, if we talk about the geography of diamond ore, we should note Africa, the Arctic Circle, Latin America and the regions of the Far East. However, over the past few decades, Canada and Namibia have also become actively involved in global production. If we talk about the top diamond-mining countries, it looks like this:

• Russia;
• Australia;
• Botswana;
• SOUTH AFRICA;
• Congo;
• Angola;
• Canada;
• Namibia.

Almost half of the world's diamonds are found on the African continent. Climatic conditions and geological features of ore occurrence have significantly reduced the cost of mining this valuable raw material. Botswana alone provides a fifth of the world market with minerals, although mining has been going on there since the 70s of the last century.

South Africa is known for the largest specimens. Angola and Namibia increase their diamond production every year and rise to the top of the mining countries.

The highest concentration of pure diamonds has been found in kimberlite pipes in Australia. Rare red diamonds were also found here (their second deposit in Brazil), which are sold only at the world's largest auctions.

Canada is the youngest and most promising supplier of “future” diamonds. Every year the country supplies the market with at least 12 million carats of precious stones.

In Russia, the richest deposits were found in Yakutia. Our country ranks first in the world in the production of jewelry, not technical raw materials. Since the largest reserves are located in permafrost, the process of extracting these valuable minerals is labor-intensive and expensive. However, it is in Russia that the purest diamonds are found, which justify numerous financial and technical costs.

The first alluvial deposits were discovered in the last century in the Urals. This gave scientists reason to think about the presence of larger diamond deposits in the country.

Where are the most gems found?

The largest deposits in the world are:

• Aikhal in Yakutia;
• Argyll in Australia;
• Catoca in Angola;
• Kimberley in South Africa;
• Jwaneng and Orapa in Botswana;
• Minas Gerais in Brazil.

Also, some of the richest mines can be found in India and the USA.

The path from kimberlite to diamond

The process of diamond formation is very long. These precious crystals have been “growing” for hundreds of years. They can be located underground for several more millions, changing, under conditions of enormous pressure and constant high temperature, the trigonal shape of the crystal lattice of graphite to the tetrahedral shape of diamond.

The explosion of magma “pushes” the rock to the surface, resulting in the formation of kimberlite pipes. These are primary deposits, which under the influence of natural factors can be transformed into secondary deposits - placers.

Interesting! After mining, suitable nuggets are selected for jewelry factories. Where cutting masters give the stones shine and a shape familiar to jewelry. From the moment it is extracted from the ground until it reaches the counter of a jewelry store, the price of a diamond can increase tenfold.

Main conclusions

Diamond mining is a technologically complex and financially expensive process, but the high cost of raw materials pays off most of the costs.

1. The main version of the formation of diamonds is the transformation of carbon located in the earth's crust under the influence of pressure and high temperature.
2. All deposits can be divided into primary (kimberlite and amproite pipes) and secondary (placers).
3. The main method of extracting raw materials is quarry and mine.
4. Russia ranks first in the world in the production of gem-quality diamonds.
5. One of the largest deposits is located in Yakutia.

The long process of formation and complex mining method make diamond such a rare and valuable material. Its unique physical properties also play an important role, allowing the stone to be actively used not only in the jewelry industry, but also in industrial and high-tech areas.

Source: https://kamnistar.com/interesnoe/kak-dobyvayut-almazy/

How is aluminum mined?

Aluminum has unique properties, such as a low melting point and high electrical conductivity, which allows it to be used in various fields of activity.

It is widely used in the production of electrical wires and as a protective coating for aircraft bodies. Metal structures for various purposes are even made from it, but for these purposes it will be necessary to buy sheet aluminum.

Preparing for work

Few people know that aluminum can be mined at home. To do this you will need the following materials and tools:

• electric arc welding machine;
• metal barrel;
• powdered graphite;
• clay.

The work can be carried out in any non-residential premises where a welding machine or other powerful power source is installed.

At the next stage, you need to prepare pure clay, 10 kg of which can contain between 3-7 kg of aluminum. For further work, it must be dried well, which can be done using various drying equipment or simply placed in the sun and left for a while.

Next, the dry clay must be crushed to a homogeneous powder state. Only in this case will it be possible to extract all the aluminum contained from it, and this will also significantly speed up the extraction process.

Extracting aluminum from clay

The resulting clay powder must be thoroughly mixed with graphite, which helps to obtain a better aluminum structure due to its high electrical conductivity. Its quantity is determined depending on the purposes for which the mined metal will be used:

• for working with electricity, 2 kg of graphite per 10 kg of clay composition will be sufficient;
• any other purpose involves adding 1 kg of graphite powder per 10 kg of clay.

The already mixed composition is poured into a pre-prepared barrel and filled with water, which is also an excellent conductor of current. After this, it is necessary to supply voltage to it, for which a welding machine or other power source is needed. During the connection process, you should follow safety rules to protect yourself from electric shock - under no circumstances should you touch the barrel.

Under the influence of current, a reaction will occur during which oxygen is split off from the clay and an aluminum alloy is formed. After the container has cooled, you can remove small lumps of mined metal from it.

Source: http://coroma.ru/aktualno/kak-dobyvayut-alyuminij.htm

Where is aluminum mined in Russia - Metalist's Guide

Aluminum is a metal coated with a matte silver oxide film, the properties of which determine its popularity: softness, lightness, ductility, high strength, corrosion resistance, electrical conductivity and lack of toxicity. In modern high technologies, the use of aluminum is given a leading place as a structural, multifunctional material.

The greatest value for industry as a source of aluminum is natural raw materials - aluminum ore , a component of rock in the form of bauxite, alunite and nepheline.

Varieties of alumina-containing ores

More than 200 minerals are known that contain aluminum.

Only rock that can meet the following requirements is considered a raw material source:

• Natural raw materials must have a high content of aluminum oxides;
• The deposit must correspond to the economic feasibility of its industrial development.
• The rock must contain aluminum raw materials in a form that can be extracted in its pure form by known methods.

Feature of the natural rock bauxite

Natural deposits of bauxite, nepheline, alunite, clay, and kaolin can serve as a source of raw materials. Bauxite is the most saturated with aluminum compounds. Clays and kaolins are the most common rocks with a significant alumina content. Deposits of these minerals are found on the surface of the earth.

Aluminum ore in nature exists only in the form of a binary compound of metal with oxygen. This compound is extracted from natural mining ores in the form of bauxite, consisting of oxides of several chemical elements: aluminum, potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron, titanium, silicon, phosphorus.

Depending on the deposit, bauxite contains from 28 to 80% alumina. This is the main raw material for obtaining a unique metal. The quality of bauxite as an aluminum raw material depends on its alumina content. This determines the physical properties of bauxite:

• The mineral has a hidden crystalline structure or is in an amorphous state. Many minerals have hardened forms of hydrogels of simple or complex composition.
• The color of bauxite at different mining locations ranges from almost white to dark red. There are deposits with a black color of the mineral.
• The density of aluminum-containing minerals depends on their chemical composition and is about 3,500 kg/m3.
• The chemical composition and structure of bauxite determines the solid properties of the mineral. The strongest minerals have a hardness of 6 units on the scale accepted in mineralogy.
• As a natural mineral, bauxite has a number of impurities, most often these are oxides of iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, and impurities of titanium and phosphorus compounds.

Bauxites, kaolins, and clays contain impurities of other compounds, which are separated into separate industries during the processing of raw materials.

Only in Russia do they use deposits with rock deposits that contain lower concentrations of alumina.

Recently, alumina began to be obtained from nephelines, which, in addition to alumina, contain oxides of metals such as potassium, sodium, silicon and, no less valuable, alum stone, alunite.

Methods for processing aluminum containing minerals

The technology for producing pure alumina from aluminum ore has not changed since the discovery of this metal. Its production equipment is being improved, allowing it to produce pure aluminum. The main production stages of obtaining pure metal:

• Extraction of ore from developed deposits.
• Primary processing of waste rocks in order to increase the concentration of alumina is an enrichment process.
• Preparation of pure alumina, electrolytic reduction of aluminum from its oxides.

The production process ends with metal with a concentration of 99.99%.

Alumina mining and beneficiation

Alumina or aluminum oxides do not exist in nature in their pure form. It is extracted from aluminum ores using hydrochemical methods.

Deposits of aluminum ore in deposits are usually blasted , providing a site for its extraction at a depth of approximately 20 meters, from where it is removed and launched into the process of further processing;

• Using special equipment (screens, classifiers), the ore is crushed and sorted, discarding waste rock (tailings). At this stage of alumina enrichment, washing and screening methods are used as the most economically advantageous.
• The purified ore settled at the bottom of the concentration plant is mixed with a heated mass of caustic soda in an autoclave.
• The mixture is passed through a system of high-strength steel vessels. The vessels are equipped with a steam jacket that maintains the required temperature. The steam pressure is maintained at 1.5-3.5 MPa until the aluminum compounds are completely transferred from the enriched rock to sodium aluminate in a superheated sodium hydroxide solution.
• After cooling, the liquid undergoes a filtration stage, as a result of which solid sediment is separated and a supersaturated pure aluminate solution is obtained. By adding aluminum hydroxide residues from the previous cycle to the resulting solution, decomposition is accelerated.
• For final drying of aluminum oxide hydrate, a calcination procedure is used.

Electrolytic production of pure aluminum

Pure aluminum is produced using a continuous process in which calcined aluminum enters the electrolytic reduction stage .

Modern electrolysers are a device consisting of the following parts:

• Made of steel casing lined with coal blocks and slabs. During operation, a dense film of frozen electrolyte is formed on the surface of the bath body, protecting the lining from destruction by the electrolyte melt.
• A layer of molten aluminum at the bottom of the bath, 10–20 cm thick, serves as the cathode in this installation.
• Current is supplied to the aluminum melt through carbon blocks and embedded steel rods.
• The anodes, suspended on an iron frame using steel pins, are provided with rods connected to a lifting mechanism. As combustion proceeds, the anode moves down, and the rods are used as an element for supplying current.
• In workshops, electrolyzers are installed sequentially in several rows (two or four rows).

  Is it possible to solder aluminum with tin?

Additional purification of aluminum by refining

If the aluminum extracted from the electrolysers does not meet the final requirements, it is subjected to additional purification by refining.

In industry, this process is carried out in a special electrolyzer, which contains three liquid layers:

• Bottom - refined aluminum with the addition of approximately 35% copper , serves as the anode. Copper is present to make the aluminum layer heavier; copper does not dissolve in the anode alloy; its density must exceed 3000 kg/m3.
• The middle layer is a mixture of fluorides and chlorides of barium, calcium, and aluminum with a melting point of about 730 ° C.
• The top layer is pure refined aluminum melt, which dissolves in the anode layer and rises up. It serves as the cathode in this circuit. The current is supplied by a graphite electrode.

During the electrolysis process, impurities remain in the anode layer and electrolyte. The yield of pure aluminum is 95–98%. The development of aluminum-containing deposits has a leading place in the national economy, thanks to the properties of aluminum, which currently ranks second after iron in modern industry.

Source: https://ssk2121.com/gde-dobyvayut-alyuminiy-v-rossii/

Primary aluminum production

The production of primary aluminum ingots includes the following stages:

• bauxite mining;
• extraction of alumina (aluminum oxide) from bauxite;
• electrolysis of aluminum from alumina;
• processing of molten aluminum and casting it into ingots.

Bauxite mining and alumina production

The source ore for aluminum production, bauxite, is quite common throughout the world and is mined by open pit mining. Bauxite is a mixture of aluminum compounds - aluminum hydroxides, as well as iron and silicon oxides. Alumina is obtained from bauxite, mainly by the Bayer method. Alumina is technical aluminum oxide (Al2O3), a white powder.

Alumina production using the Bayer method [1]

Electrolysis of primary aluminum

Metallic (primary) aluminum is smelted from alumina by electrolysis using the Hall-Heroult method. This happens in electrolysers, which are a bath of molten cryolite. This molten cryolite is the electrolyte in this electrochemical process. A typical electrolyser is about 5-10 m long. The cathode in this electrolytic process is the bottom of the electrolyser bath, which is lined with carbon blocks.

The anodes are massive blocks of carbon that are gradually immersed in cryolite as they burn. Therefore, carbon anodes require constant replacement, and this represents a significant part of the work and expense. Cryolite (Na3AlF6) is practically not consumed during the electrolysis process.

Alumina is gradually added to the electrolyser on top of the melt, where it is melted. The temperature in the electrolyzer bath is 950-970 °C. Drops of liquid aluminum form and accumulate at the bottom of the bath. This is primary aluminum. Molten aluminum leaves the electrolyzer at a temperature of about 900 °C.

The direct electric current supplied to the electrolyzer usually has a voltage of 4-5 volts and a current of about 150,000 A.

The production of 1 kg of aluminum requires approximately 2 kg of alumina, 0.5 kg of coal and 15 kilowatt-hours of electrical energy.

One electrolyzer shop can contain 600-700 electrolyzers and be up to 1 kilometer long.

Electrolyzer [1]

Primary aluminum processing

On the territory of the electrolyzer shop there is usually a foundry department, into which flows of liquid primary aluminum from the electrolyzer housings enter via minimal paths. The foundry department houses large reverberatory furnaces (mixers) with electrical heating.

Typically, to improve product quality, two paired reverberatory furnaces are installed in series. One furnace – a “settler” – is designed to receive, settle, and average the temperature and chemical composition of the metal. Another furnace – “filling” or “dispensing” – is designed for pouring various types of products. Typically these furnaces are stationary, which, unlike tilting furnaces, allows for a continuous casting process.

Liquid aluminum is kept in a furnace for 30-45 minutes at a temperature of 690-730 ° C for the floating and sedimentation of non-metallic inclusions, as well as the release of gases from the metal.

Impurities are removed from the aluminum melt by refining. To do this, it is usually purged with chlorine. The resulting gaseous aluminum chloride, passing through the melt, envelops particles of impurities, which float to the surface of the metal in the form of slag, which is mechanically removed. Chlorination of aluminum also helps remove Na, Ca, Mg and gases dissolved in aluminum. After refining, the purity of primary aluminum reaches 99.5-99.85%.

Pouring primary aluminum into molds

Pouring of pigs - small standardized ingots - is usually carried out into molds on a conveyor-type casting machine. Metal is poured into molds using a short, even stream. After filling the molds, the oxide film is removed from the metal surface. These machines are equipped with a device for mechanical marking of pigs and an air or water cooling system for the molds.

Economic geography of primary aluminum

The main consumables and resources in the production of primary aluminum are:

• bauxite;
• coal (coke) and
• Electric Energy.

Unfortunately, these three components are never in the same place on Earth. Therefore, for primary aluminum production, locations are usually chosen near hydroelectric stations with cheap electrical energy. These power plants may be located several thousand kilometers from the source of the alumina and from markets for aluminum ingots.

Source: https://aluminium-guide.ru/proizvodstvo-pervichnogo-alyuminiya/

Where is aluminum mined in Russia - Metals, equipment, instructions

Aluminum is a chemical element that occupies a leading position among the most abundant metals in the earth's crust, as well as the most commonly used. Its content in the ground is equal to 9%. It is found only in the form of compounds represented by aluminum oxide or alumina. It is clay that contains about 30% of this oxide.

This metal compares favorably with other types due to its properties. And this means excellent plasticity, high coefficients of thermal and electrical conductivity, and low density. This article will tell you about the technologies for the production and extraction of aluminum and its alloys in the world, as well as the important factors of such events.

In order to mine alumina in natural conditions and then extract aluminum from it, you will need a fairly large amount of equipment:

• Machines for distributing alumina;
• Cathode busbar;
• Dry gas cleaning installation;
• Electrolyzer;
• Cranes for installation, linear and technical purposes;
• Equipment necessary for foundry and anode assembly shops.

To produce aluminum, you need not only a large amount of equipment, but also a fairly large area, as well as a powerful electrical network.

The fact is that the electrolysis process takes place in special baths at a temperature of 9600C and a current of about 250,000 A.

To organize such a production process, a huge amount of electricity will be required, which is why large producers of this metal try to locate their workshops in close proximity to hydroelectric power plants that supply cheaper energy. The following is a discussion of raw materials for aluminum production.

The video below talks about aluminum production:

In order to obtain aluminum, it is necessary to load anode mass, alumina, and fluorine salt into the electrolyzer. During electrolysis, carbon oxides are produced from clay, as well as fluoride compounds in a gaseous state. In this case, part of the anode mass is consumed in the form of foam, which is removed from the surface of the electrolyte itself.

Excessive consumption of anode mass, as well as fluoride salts, may indicate poor quality of the mass itself, as well as improper maintenance of the equipment used.

In theory, to produce 1 kg of aluminum, 1.9 kg of alumina will be required. The rest of it includes all kinds of impurities and losses during the production process. However, in practice, much more raw materials may be required, depending on the type of clay, equipment used and other factors.

Next, the technology of casting and production of aluminum welding with argon is considered.

Aluminum production technologies

The aluminum production technology includes the following stages:

1. Extraction of alumina (aluminum oxide) from aluminum ores.
2. Isolation from aluminum oxide.
3. Complete cleaning of aluminum.

Alumina can be obtained using acid, alkaline and electrolytic methods. The first option is preferable to use when working with high grades of raw materials.

The second method involves the rapid decomposition of the aluminum solution by introducing aluminum hydroxide.

The solution formed after this reaction is evaporated for subsequent use for alumina.

The first stage of aluminum extraction is the careful crushing of bauxite using caustic alkali or lime.

Then the raw material is placed in autoclaves, where at a temperature of 250°C it decomposes and sodium aluminate is released.

The resulting sodium solution goes through a purification stage in special thickeners, where it is separated from the sludge. The purified solution is passed through filters and sent to containers with regular stirring.

In vacuum filters and cyclones, aluminum oxide is released, part of which is used for seeding, and the rest is sent for calcination.

This process is also called dehydration and occurs at a temperature of about 1300°C. On average, to obtain 2 tons of oxide, energy up to 8.5 kW/h will be required.

the resulting fairly strong connection is not yet pure aluminum.

This video will tell you about the electrolysis process in aluminum production:

The main equipment at this stage is a special bath (electrolyzer), equipped with carbon blocks. An electric current with a power of up to 150,000 A is supplied to it, and carbon anodes are loaded into the container itself, which burn after releasing pure oxygen and form carbon monoxide.

Anodes are divided into two types:

• Obtained by burning coal blocks, the mass of which can exceed 1 ton.
• Self-burning, including coal briquettes that are baked during electrolysis.

Metal refining

The most popular method for producing aluminum is three-layer electrolysis, which takes place in special baths lined with magnesite. The molten aluminum itself acts as the anode. It is in the lowest layer.

Pure metal, which dissolves in the anode layer due to the electrolyte process, rises to the surface acting as a cathode. Refined aluminum contains magnesium, titanium and other impurities in a minimal proportion. And already at this stage it receives the form of commercial products, be it ingots, pigs or wire.

The largest aluminum producer is the Rusal company, which produces more than 4 million tons of aluminum per year. The list of largest aluminum producers in Russia also includes:

• SUAL company, specializing in working with aluminum alloys;
• JSC "BAZ", operating in the production and extraction of alumina and aluminum hydroxide;
• VgAZ, a plant for the production of primary aluminum.

Aluminum production is a complex process that requires the necessary equipment, knowledge of technology, compliance with special conditions and labor costs. But the manufacture of various aluminum products is a popular business.

This video will tell you about the prospects for aluminum production:

Source: https://spb-metalloobrabotka.com/gde-dobyvayut-alyuminiy-v-rossii/

Aluminum ore and the use of the properties of pure aluminum in the national economy

Aluminum is a metal coated with a matte silver oxide film, the properties of which determine its popularity: softness, lightness, ductility, high strength, corrosion resistance, electrical conductivity and lack of toxicity. In modern high technologies, the use of aluminum is given a leading place as a structural, multifunctional material.

The greatest value for industry as a source of aluminum is natural raw materials - aluminum ore , a component of rock in the form of bauxite, alunite and nepheline.

Aluminum ore: deposits, mining

In modern industry, aluminum ore is the most popular raw material. The rapid development of science and technology has made it possible to expand the scope of its application. What aluminum ore is and where it is mined is described in this article.

Industrial importance of aluminum

Aluminum is considered the most common metal. It ranks third in terms of the number of deposits in the earth's crust. Aluminum is also known to everyone as an element in the periodic table, which belongs to light metals.

Aluminum ore is the natural raw material from which this metal is obtained. It is mainly mined from bauxite, which contains aluminum oxides (alumina) in the largest quantities - from 28 to 80%. Other rocks - alunite, nepheline and nepheline-apatite are also used as raw materials for the production of aluminum, but they are of poorer quality and contain significantly less alumina.

Aluminum ranks first in non-ferrous metallurgy. The fact is that due to its characteristics it is used in many industries. Thus, this metal is used in transport engineering, packaging production, construction, and for the manufacture of various consumer goods. Aluminum is also widely used in electrical engineering.

To understand the importance of aluminum for humanity, it is enough to take a closer look at the household things that we use every day. Many household items are made of aluminum: these are parts for electrical appliances (refrigerator, washing machine, etc.), dishes, sports equipment, souvenirs, interior elements. Aluminum is often used to produce various types of containers and packaging. For example, cans or disposable foil containers.

Types of aluminum ores

Aluminum is found in more than 250 minerals. Of these, the most valuable for industry are bauxite, nepheline and alunite. Let's look at them in more detail.

Bauxite ore

Aluminum does not occur in nature in its pure form. It is mainly obtained from aluminum ore - bauxite. It is a mineral that mostly consists of aluminum hydroxides, as well as iron and silicon oxides. Due to the high alumina content (40 to 60%), bauxite is used as a raw material for the production of aluminum.

Physical properties of aluminum ore:

• opaque mineral of red and gray colors of various shades;
• the hardness of the strongest samples is 6 on the mineralogical scale;
• The density of bauxite, depending on the chemical composition, ranges from 2900-3500 kg/m³.

Bauxite ore deposits are concentrated in the equatorial and tropical zones of the earth. More ancient deposits are located in Russia.

Bauxite is formed from alumina monohydrate, boehmite and diaspore, trihydrate hydrargillite and associated minerals hydroxide and iron oxide.

Depending on the composition of nature-forming elements, three groups of bauxite ores are distinguished:

1. Monohydrate bauxite – contains alumina in monohydrate form.
2. Trihydrate - such minerals consist of alumina in trihydrate form.
3. Mixed - this group includes the previous aluminum ores in combination.

Deposits of raw materials are formed due to the weathering of acidic, alkaline, and sometimes basic rocks or as a result of the gradual deposition of large quantities of alumina on the sea and lake beds.

Alunite ores

This type of deposit contains up to 40% aluminum oxide. Alunite ore is formed in water basins and coastal zones under conditions of intense hydrothermal and volcanic activity. An example of such deposits is Lake Zaglinskoye in the Lesser Caucasus.

The rock is porous. Mainly consists of kaolinites and hydromicas. Ore with an alunite content of more than 50% is of industrial interest.

Nepheline

This is an aluminum ore of igneous origin. It is a fully crystalline alkaline rock. Depending on the composition and technological features of processing, several grades of nepheline ore are distinguished:

• first grade – 60–90% nepheline; it contains more than 25% alumina; processing is carried out by sintering;
• second grade – 40–60% nepheline, the amount of alumina is slightly lower – 22–25%; enrichment is required during processing;
• the third grade is nepheline minerals, which are of no industrial value.

World production of aluminum ores

Aluminum ore was first mined in the first half of the 19th century in the southeast of France, near the town of Box. This is where the name bauxite comes from. At first, this industry developed at a slow pace.

But when humanity appreciated which aluminum ore was useful for production, the scope of aluminum application expanded significantly. Many countries have begun searching for deposits on their territories. Thus, the world production of aluminum ores began to gradually increase. The numbers confirm this fact.

Thus, if in 1913 the global volume of ore mined was 540 thousand tons, then in 2014 it was more than 180 million tons.

The number of countries mining aluminum ore also gradually increased. Today there are about 30 of them. But over the past 100 years, leading countries and regions have constantly changed. Thus, at the beginning of the 20th century, the world leaders in the extraction of aluminum ore and its production were North America and Western Europe. These two regions accounted for about 98% of global production.

Several decades later, in terms of quantitative indicators of the aluminum industry, the countries of Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Soviet Union became the leaders. And already in the 1950s–1960s, Latin America became the leader in terms of production. And in the 1980–1990s. There was a rapid breakthrough in the aluminum industry in Australia and Africa.

In the current global trend, the main leading countries in aluminum production are Australia, Brazil, China, Guinea, Jamaica, India, Russia, Suriname, Venezuela and Greece.

Ore deposits in Russia

In terms of aluminum ore production, Russia ranks seventh in the world ranking. Although aluminum ore deposits in Russia provide the country with large quantities of metal, it is not enough to fully supply the industry. Therefore, the state is forced to buy bauxite from other countries.

In total, there are 50 ore deposits in Russia. This number includes both places where the mineral is being mined and deposits that have not yet been developed.

Most of the ore reserves are located in the European part of the country. Here they are located in the Sverdlovsk, Arkhangelsk, Belgorod regions, in the Komi Republic. All these regions contain 70% of the country's total proven ore reserves.

Aluminum ores in Russia are still mined from old bauxite deposits. Such areas include the Radynskoye field in the Leningrad region. Also, due to a shortage of raw materials, Russia uses other aluminum ores, the deposits of which are of poorer quality mineral deposits. But they are still suitable for industrial purposes. Thus, in Russia, nepheline ores are mined in large quantities, which also make it possible to obtain aluminum.

Source: https://FB.ru/article/177023/alyuminievaya-ruda-mestorojdeniya-dobyicha

Scrap (scrap) in the game Rust: complete guide

In fact, scrap metal is a relatively new resource that has been added to the game for 2 years.

With the advent of scrap, many mechanics and partly the principle of the game itself changed, since the concept of a system of unique components changed, because with the help of scrap you can now craft components.

However, this is not what this guide is about. Thanks to this guide, you will learn where you can find scrap and how to get it. However, before the key methods, you should know where the scrap comes from:

1. From wooden boxes;
2. From barrels;
3. From tool boxes;
4. From simple boxes;
5. From military boxes;
6. From elite boxes.

Method 1 - Extraction of scrap by processing

The first thing you should know is that not all items give scrap. The only exceptions are those items (components) in which metal is present at least in some form. Such items are:

• Rifle body – gives 25 units of scrap;
• Old microcircuits - give 20 units of scrap;
• Submachine gun body – gives 15 units of scrap;
• Gears - give 10 units of scrap;
• Metal spring – gives 10 units of scrap;
• Nailshooter - gives 10 units of scrap;
• Sheet metal - gives 8 units of scrap;
• Metal pipe – gives 5 units of scrap;
• Metal blade – gives 2 units of scrap;
• Propane cylinder – gives 1 unit of scrap.

The above list describes the amount of scrap per item. In addition, it is important to take into account that all these items can be obtained from other items through processing and then scrap can be obtained from the resulting items. Of course, again through recycling. For example, from a computer for guidance you can get 3 old microcircuits, and for one microcircuit you can get 20 units of scrap. As a result, it turns out that you can extract 60 units of scrap.

Recycler

Method 2 - Float on the water and collect garbage

Perhaps the safest, most profitable and effective way to farm scrap that exists in Rust today. Safety lies in the fact that no one will chase you through the water with the goal of killing you, since this takes a huge amount of time and it does not always pay off the effort and time spent.

This method is profitable due to the fact that the sea expanses are not farmed as actively as RT and other land points. And it is effective due to the fact that you can move through the water on a boat much faster and loot points are located at almost every step.

What you will need for this:

1. Boats , which are scattered almost around the entire island;
2. Diving mask , fins, wetsuit , diving tank;
3. Low quality fuel (30-50 units will be enough for the first time).

The only rule that should be followed is that you should never swim and look for loot points at night (nothing will be visible even if you swim with a torch).

In addition to trash points (where you can find barrels and, in some cases, even wooden boxes), you can also periodically go underwater to untie boxes and then loot them on the surface, since there is also a huge number of boxes and barrels with scrap underwater.

However, to implement your plan, you will need to monitor the air tanks and the boat so that it does not suddenly get stolen, so it is best to do this in the company of a friend.

Garbage in the ocean

Method 3 - Trade

Another more peaceful way to get scrap in large quantities. To do this, you will need to get to the NPC city , which belongs to peaceful scientists or find any other vending machine. As a rule, in such stores you can buy scrap in exchange for certain resources. And often you can exchange stone, wood and other resources for scrap. Therefore, if you have extra resources, then you can always exchange them for scrap.

Method 4 - Roulette

Quite an interesting and sometimes incredibly profitable activity. The fact is that in the city of bandits there is an abandoned barge standing in the middle of a swamp, on which the bandits have settled. And inside the barge on the second floor there is a roulette table in which you can take part.

A crowbar is used as bets. It is enough to place a crowbar on a certain number, and then if you win, the amount of scrap increases by the number you bet on. However, you need to understand that gambling is always a risk.

Therefore, you can either leave with a huge amount of scrap or with an empty inventory.

Casino

Method 5 - Loot RT

The most dangerous way to search for scrap. But scrap metal can be found on any RT that exists in the game. Each RT is filled with a variety of barrels and boxes, inside of which you can find not only a lot of scrap, but also other valuable items.

Only there are no fewer competitors in such places, and not all of them come to the Republic of Tatarstan in search of scrap. Quite often, some players hunt others.

Plus, in some RTs there is radiation , so you should go to such places with good equipment: armor and powerful firearms.

Source: http://rustcraft.ru/skrap-lom-v-igre-rust-polnyj-gajd/