Bauxite is a naturally occurring, heterogeneous material composed primarily of one or more aluminum hydroxide minerals, plus various mixtures of silica, iron oxide, titania, aluminosilicate, and other impurities in minor or trace amounts.

• Mining: Bauxite is mined from surface or near-surface deposits.
• Crushing and grinding: Bauxite is crushed and ground to release the aluminum element.
• Leaching: Bauxite is subjected to high temperature, high pressure, and chemical reactions to generate soluble aluminum hydroxide.
• Refining: The extracted aluminum hydroxide is refined to remove impurities.