Bauxite is primarily used for the production of aluminum. It is the main source of aluminum ore, accounting for around 70-80% of the global bauxite production. Bauxite is a mixture of minerals, primarily composed of aluminum hydroxide minerals such as gibbsite, boehmite, and diaspore, along with various impurities such as iron oxides, silica, and clay minerals.

The process of extracting aluminum from bauxite involves refining it into alumina (aluminum oxide) through the Bayer process. Alumina is then further processed in the Hall-Héroult process to obtain pure aluminum metal. The extracted aluminum is widely used in various industries, including automotive, construction, packaging, electrical, and aerospace, due to its lightweight, corrosion resistance, and excellent conductivity properties.

Apart from aluminum production, bauxite is also used for non-metallurgical purposes. These include:

1. Refractory Applications: Bauxite with high alumina content is utilized in the production of refractory bricks, castables, and other refractory materials. These materials are used in high-temperature applications, such as in furnaces, kilns, and reactors, where high thermal resistance and chemical stability are required.

2. Abrasives: Bauxite can be processed into abrasive grains or powders for use in various abrasive applications. These include sandpapers, grinding wheels, polishing compounds, and blasting media. Bauxite abrasives are known for their hardness, toughness, and wear resistance.

3. Cement Production: Bauxite with high silica content is used as a raw material in the production of cement. It acts as a fluxing agent, helping to reduce the melting temperature of the raw materials during the kiln process.

4. Proppants: Bauxite-based proppants, also known as frac sand or fracturing sand, are used in hydraulic fracturing operations in the oil and gas industry. Proppants help to prop open fractures in the rock formations, allowing for the extraction of oil or gas.

5. Chemical Industry: Bauxite can be used as a source of aluminum chemicals, such as aluminum sulfate, aluminum chloride, and aluminum fluoride. These chemicals find applications in industries such as water treatment, paper manufacturing, and production of specialty chemicals.

Overall, bauxite plays a crucial role in the production of aluminum and finds diverse applications in various industries due to its abundant availability and desirable.