Refractory & Abrasive Grade Bauxite
Select high-alumina bauxite with low iron and titania for high-temperature furnace bricks, castables, abrasives and specialised industrial uses.
Bauxite for refractories and abrasives
Refractories line the furnaces, kilns and ladles of the steel, cement, glass and non-ferrous industries. High-alumina bauxite is a key raw material for them: after calcination at high temperature it becomes a dense, hard, alumina-rich grain used in high-alumina bricks and monolithic castables.
Abrasive makers fuse bauxite in electric arc furnaces to produce brown fused alumina, the grain behind grinding wheels, coated abrasives and blasting media.
In both uses the impurities matter as much as the alumina. Iron and titanium oxides act as fluxes that lower refractoriness and change how the grain performs. That is why this grade is selected from high-alumina ore with low Fe₂O₃ and TiO₂. Calcination or fusion is typically carried out by the refractory or abrasive producer.
Key specifications
| Parameter | Why it matters | What we supply |
|---|---|---|
| Al₂O₃ (alumina) | Higher alumina gives higher refractoriness and a harder abrasive grain. | High-alumina select |
| Fe₂O₃, TiO₂ | Act as fluxes that lower the temperature the finished product can withstand. | Low |
| SiO₂ | Affects the phases formed on firing and the grain's high-temperature behaviour. | Analysed per lot |
| Size | Calciners and furnaces need a consistent feed size. | Graded 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
- Ore is selected from high-alumina zones identified by grid sampling.
- Run-of-mine ore is crushed and screened on site.
- Lots are graded by chemistry, with particular attention to iron and titania.
- Every lot is sampled at the minehead stockpile and again at loading, so chemistry and sizing stay consistent.
Read more about our pit-to-port process and reclamation practices.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between refractory and metallurgical grade bauxite?
Metallurgical grade is chosen for available alumina and low reactive silica because it is refined into alumina for aluminium. Refractory and abrasive grade is chosen for high alumina with low iron and titania, because those oxides lower the temperature resistance and hardness of the finished refractory or abrasive.
Why do iron and titanium matter in refractory bauxite?
Fe₂O₃ and TiO₂ act as fluxes. Even small amounts lower the refractoriness of bricks and castables and affect the colour and toughness of fused abrasive grain, so buyers set tight limits on both.
Can you grade refractory bauxite to our specification?
Yes. Minequor has the technical capability to supply mineral grades based on specific industrial requirements. Share your target Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, TiO₂ and size range; final specifications are agreed per contract and confirmed by lab analysis.
Need this grade?
Share your tonnage, target chemistry, size range and delivery point. The sales team replies with grade availability and logistics options.