The Wagerup refinery uses the Bayer Process to refine alumina from Darling Range bauxite.

Alumina is a white granular material, a little less coarse than table salt, and is properly called aluminium oxide. Aluminium does not occur as a metal, but must first be refined from bauxite in its oxide form. The Bayer refining process used by alumina refineries worldwide involves four steps - digestion, clarification, precipitation and calcination.

Visit the "It All Starts With Dirt" Web site
Alcoa's founders discovered how to make pure aluminum and created a new industry the world over. Explore the amazing process of turning a four-ton truckload of dirt into a ton of aluminum.
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