Bauxite is an aluminium ore and the main source of aluminium. India has large reserves of bauxite, holding the fifth largest reserves globally. Bauxite is important economically due to aluminium's widespread use in various industries and applications. Major bauxite deposits in India are associated with laterite soils located on high plateaus in several states. Bauxite is primarily strip mined since it is usually found near the surface. Key bauxite mining and processing companies in India include Hindalco Industries, Ashapura Minechem, Greentex Mining, and NALCO.

1. SOCIAL STUDIES PROJECT WORK

3.  Bauxite was named after the village Les Bauxin
southern France, where it was first recognized as
containing aluminium and named by the French
geologist Pierre Berthier in 1821. Bauxite is
an aluminium ore and is the main source of
aluminium. This form of rock consists mostly of
the minerals gibbsite Al(OH)3, boehmite γ-
AIO(OH), and diaspore α-AIO(OH), in a mixture with
the two iron oxides goethite and hematite, the clay
mineral kaolinite, and small amounts of anatase TiO2.

5.  Indian bauxite resources are confined to peninsular shield
excepting the occurrences in Jammu in the extra
peninsular region. In the peninsular region about 85% of
the total reserve is associated with ‘high level’ laterite
occurring along the eastern and western coasts of which
nearly 74% of the reserve is restricted to east coast.
About 10% of the total reserve occurs amidst inland
plateaus. The major bauxite deposits of India are
generally associated with laterite capping occurring as
blankets on the plateaus of high elevation of 700 m to
2100 m above MSL in parts of Orissa, Andhra
Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya
Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

6.  Bauxite is usually strip mined because it is almost always
found near the surface of the terrain, with little or
no overburden. Approximately 70% to 80% of the world's
dry bauxite production is processed first
into alumina, and then into aluminium by electrolysis as
of 2010. Bauxite rocks are typically classified according
to their intended commercial application:
metallurgical, abrasive, cement, chemical, and refractory.

7. The Environmental Impacts
 Air Pollution and Acid Rain
 Water Pollution
 Fishery Pollution
 Toxicity Affecting Human Lives

8. ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE
 It is the primary source of
aluminum metal. It is
extremely important
economically due to the very
widespread use of aluminum.
It is used in everything from
soda cans to candy wrappers
to cars, aircraft, and boats. It
is the most common light
weight metal in use.

9.  India is favorably endowed with large reserves
(3037 million tones of institute reserve) of
Bauxite. In terms of bauxite reserves, India
holds the fifth place in the world.
 Of all non ferrous metals, aluminium production
in India is large enough to meet the growing
demand within the country and has a surplus
for export. During the year 1991-92, Rs.440
crores of foreign exchange was earned by the
country through export of bauxite and alumina.

10. AGENCIES EXPLORING IT
oASHAPURA MINICHEM LIMITED
oHINDALCO INDUSTRIES LIMITED
oGREENTEX MINING COMPANY
oTHE MADRAS ALUMINIUM COMPANY
LIMITED

11. Ashapura Minechem Limited
 Ashapura Is The Largest Mine
owner, Processor & Exporter Of Bentonite &
Allied Minerals Like
Bentonite, Barite, Bauxite, Attapulgite, Kaolin
, Chromites Sand, Anthracite, Potash
Feldspar, Mica Etc From India. We Are Also
The Fourth Largest Producer Of Bentonite In
The World.

12. Hindalco Industries Ltd
 Hindalco, the leading private sector player in the
aluminium industry, is one of the lowest cost producers of
primary aluminium in the world. It is the largest integrated
producer in the country with captive bauxite reserves and
down stream production facilities.

13.  Greentex Mining Co., They are Focused On Mining And Selling
Minerals As Raw Material For Steel & Aluminium Industry.
Incorporated In Year 1997 Company's Focus Was To
Acquire Mines Of Iron Ore, Bauxite, Quarts & Clay.
Our Expertise Is Extended To Metals, Ferrous And
Non Ferrous Too. The Company's Vision & Mission Is To Utilize
Its Core Values & Strengths, Complemented With The Vast
Experience Gained, To Help Clients Keep Pace With The Changing
Times And Respond To Domestic & International Market Forces
By Maintaining Consistent Quality & Dispatch
Schedules, Making Gmc Synonymous With Reliability

14. MALCO
MALCO is one of the five fully integrated Aluminium complex
in India. MALCO is engaged in the mining of
bauxite, Manufacture of alumina, aluminium and downstream
products like rods and rolled products. The company mines
bauxite from own captive mines located in the close proximity
of the plant in Southern India

15.  In 2010, Australia was the top
producer of bauxite with almost one-
third of the world's
production, followed by
China, Brazil, India, and Guinea.
Although aluminium demand is rapidly
increasing, known reserves of its
bauxite ore are sufficient to meet the
worldwide demands for aluminium for
many centuries. Increased aluminium
recycling, which has the advantage of
lowering the cost in electric power in
producing aluminium, will
considerably extend the world's
bauxite reserves.

17.  http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_economic_impo
rtance_of_Bauxite
 http://www.indiacatalog.com/web_directory/minerals_met
als/1601.html
 http://www.vlink.com/socialissues/index.php?subaction=s
howfull&id=1243275543&archive=&start_from=&ucat=4&
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauxite
 http://www.mapsofworld.com/minerals/world-bauxite-
producers.html#
 http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/education/minerals/bauxite
.html