Bauxite is the main ore mineral responsible for the production of alumina, and ultimately aluminium. The production of alumina consumes over 90% of global bauxite mined. The remainder is used in the refractory, abrasive and chemical industries. Bauxite is also used in the production of high - alumina cement, as a catalyst in the oil industry, in welding rod coatings, and as a flux in making steel and ferroalloys. Alumina is used to produce aluminium, which has a wide range of uses in the consumer and capital goods markets. Some uses of aluminium include electrical equipment; car, ship, aircraft construction; metallurgical processes; industrial and domestic construction and packaging materials.

Bauxite is composed of three main minerals; gibbsite (Al203.3H20), boehmite (Al203.H20), and diaspore, which have the same composition as boehmite but is denser and harder. Bauxite ore is considered economically exploitable when it contains sufficiently high enough Al2O3 and low levels of Fe2O3 and silica. Australia, Guinea , Jamaica and Suriname are among the world’s major producers.