Exploring the Natural Wealth of Africa
The African continent is home to an abundance of natural resources that include diamonds, gold, oil, natural gas, uranium, platinum, copper, cobalt, iron, bauxite, silver, and more. In this section we will explore many aspects of these resources. We will delve into how these resources are mined and processed throughout history and in modern times, and we will discover the practical applications of the resources.
A Largely Untapped Wealth
Because Africa has had a low local human density for a long period of time, it has been colonized and the treasure trove of natural resources discovered. From West Africa to South Africa and everywhere in between there are massive quantities of natural resources contained within the continent’s interior. Even though the world is fueled by commodity consumption, there is so much natural wealth on the continent that a great deal of it is as yet unused - the deposits are so abundant that some of it has yet to be discovered. Through the years these resources have been exploited by other countries including the United States, France, Canada and the United Kingdom for various practical applications.
Limitless Potential for Application
The natural resources in Africa are used practically in many industries and in many countries every day
. Industries include manufacturing, industrial, and energy, medical and infrastructure development. The natural resource economy of Africa greatly contributes to the buildings and structures constructed on the continent. Besides local use, some of the largest engineering projects are linked to the trade of resources like oil and minerals, and large quantities of natural resources are exported to other countries. Metals exported from Africa include uranium, platinum, nickel, bauxite and cobalt. Two of the most profitable mineral exports are gold and diamonds. The continent can produce close to 500 tons of gold a year and is responsible for a large percentage of the world’s diamonds.
Africa leading the Way with Bauxite Production
Bauxite is an aluminium ore. It is known for being the main source of aluminium in the world. Bauxite was first discovered by a French geologist called Pierre Bertheir in 1821 in Provence in the South of France in Les Baux village. The French chemist Henri Sainte-Claire Deville gave the mineral the name ‘bauxite’ in 1861. Although aluminium is in high demand around the world, there are enough known bauxite reserves to meet the global demands for several centuries. An increase in aluminium recycling is also drastically extending the lifespan of the aluminium reserves around the world.
Processing Bauxite
Because it is usually found near the surface Bauxite is almost always easily strip mined. Over 70% of the dry bauxite production around the globe is first processed in to alumina, and then into aluminium through a process of electrolysis. The general classification of bauxite ore is based on the commercial application it is intended for. Applications include abrasive, metallurgical, cement, refractory and chemical. The ore is heated in a pressurised chamber at a high temperature of around 200°C and the aluminium is dissolved and then extracted. It is then cooled and seeded before being converted into aluminium oxide which is dissolved at a very high temperature of around 960°C. With further electrolysis aluminium is produced. Before this lengthy, but very effective process was invented in 1886, elemental aluminium was made by heating ore with potassium or elemental sodium in a vacuum – an expensive and complicated method which made aluminium very expensive – during that time aluminium was even more expensive than gold.
Where Bauxite is Mined
Africa is home to some of the world’s largest resources of bauxite.
It is predominantly mined in Ghana, Guinea and Mozambique, with Guinea being the biggest producer of bauxite on the African continent. Other notable Aluminium producing countries include Egypt, Cameroon, and South Africa. The world’s biggest mining companies include MBendi, Alcan’t, Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton, Anglo American, and the Alumina Company of Guinea (ACG) top the list with bauxite mining, production and processing.
Top Countries for Bauxite Production
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Guinea ranks at #5 for world production of bauxite by country at 15,600 (x1000 metric tonnes). In terms of sheer metric tonnage, Australia tops the list at 65,231 (x1000 metric tonnes), China weighs in at second place with 40,000 (x1000 metric tonnes), Brazil comes in third at 28,200 (x1000 metric tonnes) and India comes in fourth at 16,000 (x1000 metric tonnes).
Bauxite in Africa
Guinea is a West African country that is rich in bauxite. While the country lacks industries to transform the resource-rich rock into a precious metal, new laws are being enacted to protect the country’s resources and share the profits with the people. According to law, 30% of profits from the mines will be collected by the state and disbursed to the people of the region. There are some complications in effect, and the government of Guinea is in negotiations with the IMF and the World Bank as to how to tax these offshore companies in the most efficient manner.
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