Metallurgical Grade Bauxite
High-alumina, low reactive silica bauxite for alumina refineries and primary aluminium smelters, mined, crushed and graded at our 175-acre operation in Raigad, Maharashtra.
Bauxite for alumina refining and aluminium smelting
Most of the world's bauxite ends up as aluminium. Refineries dissolve the alumina out of the ore with caustic soda in the Bayer process, and smelters then reduce that alumina to aluminium metal. It is commonly cited that roughly four to five tonnes of bauxite make about two tonnes of alumina, which in turn make one tonne of aluminium.
Because so much ore goes into every tonne of metal, small differences in chemistry change a refinery's costs. Higher available alumina means more product per tonne of ore. Reactive silica is the main penalty element: it consumes caustic soda and locks up alumina in the refining residue.
Our metallurgical grade is selected for high Al₂O₃ and low reactive silica, then crushed and screened on site to a size the refinery's process can take.
Key specifications
| Parameter | Why it matters | What we supply |
|---|---|---|
| Al₂O₃ (alumina) | Drives how much alumina a refinery recovers from each tonne of ore. | High, 40%+ for refinery feed |
| Reactive SiO₂ | Consumes caustic soda and alumina during digestion, raising refining cost. | Low |
| Fe₂O₃, TiO₂ | Report to the refining residue and affect its volume and handling. | Analysed per lot |
| Size | Affects handling, grinding and digestion efficiency. | Crushed and screened to the buyer's size range |
Indian Bureau of Mines notes that alumina producers prefer bauxite with a minimum of 40% Al₂O₃. Final specifications are agreed per contract and confirmed by lab analysis.
How we select and check this grade
- Grid sampling and geological mapping define the higher-alumina zones of the ore body before benches are cut.
- Run-of-mine ore is crushed on site and screened into size fractions.
- Lots are graded by chemistry so each shipment matches the agreed specification.
- Every lot is sampled twice: at the minehead stockpile and again at loading.
Read more about our pit-to-port process and reclamation practices.
Frequently asked questions
What alumina content does metallurgical grade bauxite need?
Indian Bureau of Mines notes that alumina producers prefer bauxite with a minimum of 40% Al₂O₃. Minequor's metallurgical grade is supplied at 40%+ Al₂O₃ for refinery feed, with final specifications agreed per contract and confirmed by lab analysis.
Why does low reactive silica matter for alumina refineries?
In the Bayer process, reactive silica reacts with caustic soda and alumina to form insoluble compounds that leave with the refining residue. Lower reactive silica means less caustic soda consumed and more alumina recovered per tonne of ore.
Can Minequor supply metallurgical bauxite for export?
Yes. Minequor supplies domestic and international markets. Raigad sits on NH-66 with JNPA and Dighi Port in the district, so ore can move by road to Indian refineries or by port-bound shipping from the Konkan coast.
Need this grade?
Share your tonnage, target chemistry, size range and delivery point. The sales team replies with grade availability and logistics options.