J Pak Mater Soc 2009 3 (1)
D. BAUXITE DEPOSITS IN PAKISTAN: AN INTRODUCTION
Muhammad Fahad, Yaseen Iqbal, Rick Ubic
Material Connection Centre, Institute of Electronics & Physics, University of Peshawar, Pakistan
1. Introduction
This introductory talk was focused upon
Bauxite, its deposits in Pakistan and
economical potential. Preliminary findings
regarding the phase and microstructure of
Bauxite were also described.
A mineral is basically defined as a naturally
occurring, inorganic substance formed
through geological processes. Each
mineral has a characteristic chemical
composition, highly ordered atomic
structure and specific physical properties.
Almost all minerals are crystalline and form
the basic component of the earth‟s crust.
So far more than 2000 minerals are known
[1]
. Mineral may be Rock Forming Minerals
or Ore-Forming. Rock Forming Minerals
are those which are found in abundance in
the rocks of the earth‟s crust whereas the
Ore-Forming minerals are those which are
of economic value and usually do not occur
in abundance in rocks.
Figure 5. Mr. M Fahad giving his talk on Bauxite.
Muhammad Fahad, Yaseen Iqbal, Rick Ubic: D. Bauxite Deposits in Pakistan:….
Rocks are aggregates or mixtures of
minerals, generally in the form of
interlocking crystals or grains. They may
comprise of one mineral only (e.g. lime-
stone) or a mixture of minerals (e.g.
granite, sand stone). Rocks may include
organic remains as well. Rocks are further
divided into igneous and sedimentary rocks
[1]
. Igneous rocks are formed by cooling &
solidification of magma which is a high-
temperature solution of silica, silicates,
metallic oxides, hot liquids and gases.
Typical Igneous rocks are granite and
basalt. Sedimentary rocks on the other
hand, are formed by consolidation and
cementation of sediments deposited under
water or land surface. Normally, they are
deposited in layers, progressively with
younger upwards and older downwards.
Such stratified layers are called “beds” and
a group of beds is called a “formation”.
Typical sedimentary rocks are sand stone
and limestone [1]. Another type of rock
referred to as “Metamorphic rocks” are
formed when the pre-existing rocks have
been changed in texture and composition
by changing conditions of temperature and
pressure. Substances formed on the earth
surface (such as clay) when subjected to
increased pressure and temperature,
change to more stable forms such as mica
or other silicates. Typical rocks of this type
are schist and gneiss [1]. Mineral are also
classified into various categories such as
a) metallic minerals which include
antimony, bauxite & laterite, chromite,
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 J Pak Mater Soc 2009 3 (1)

copper, gold, silver, platinum, iron ore, lead

and zinc, b) mineral used as fuel e.g. coal,
petroleum and natural gas, c) precious and
decorative stones e.g. garnet, peridot,
quartz, ruby and topaz, and d) silicates
such as china clay, fluorite, fire clay,
feldspar, limestone and silica sand.
Bauxite is a metallic mineral named after
the village “Les Baux” (Southern France)
where it was first discovered by “Pierre
Berthier” in 1821. Bauxite is the most
important aluminum ore consisting largely
of gibbsite [Al(OH)3], boehmite [γ-AlO(OH)]
and diaspore [ά-AlO(OH)] along with iron Figure 6. A Camera photograph from the AJK‟s
Bauxite sample, showing its general appearance.
oxides such as goethite, hematite and clay
mineral kaolinite [Al2Si2O5(OH)4] and small
High-Alumina bauxite deposits, categorized
amount of anatase [TiO2][5]. Bauxite may
as “commercial bauxite” mainly occur in the
be lateritic (i.e. silica bauxite) or karst (i.e.
following areas of Pakistan [1]:
carbonate bauxite). Bauxite may be white,
grey, yellow or red with white streak and
a) Katha-Pail Deposits (> 100 m.t) which
dull to earthy luster [2]. On mohs scale of
contains 35.5-72.5% alumina, 8.68-
hardness, its hardness is 1 to 3 with 2 to
50% silica and 10-20% iron along with
2.5 specific gravity. The crystal structure of
boehmite and kaolinite and trace
Diaspore and Boehmite is orthorhombic
amount of diaspore and gibbsite.
whereas Gibbsite is monoclinic [2].
b) Chhoi-Akhori Deposits (46.5 m.t) which
contains ~32-76% Al2O3, 2.5-43%
2. Processing
SiO2, 0.25-12% Fe2O3 and 2.2 - 4.2%
Bauxite is strip mineral as it is found at the
TiO2.
surface with little or no over burden.
Bauxite deposits have also been
Approximately 85-95% of the world‟s
reported in Muzaffarabad-Kotli, Bandi
bauxite production is processed into
Kapla-Khanpur Hazara, Margalla Hills
aluminum. In 2007, Australia was the top
(0.86 m.t) and Attock Surge area (0.25
producer of bauxite with almost one third of
m.t). An ordinary camera photograph of
the world share, following China, Brazil and
as-mined stones of Azad Jammu &
Jamaica [3]. The Bayer process is the
Kashmir (AJK) bauxite is shown in
principal industrial means of refining
Figure 6.
bauxite to produce alumina [8]. Bauxite
contains only 30 to 54% alumina and is To assess the „Processability‟ of a mineral,
obtained by filtering off the solid impurities. its chemical and phase composition must
The mixture of the residual solid impurities be known because this determines the
is called “red mud”. quality of the mineral and the required
process for its up-gradation. In addition to
alumina extraction, the residues or

Muhammad Fahad, Yaseen Iqbal, Rick Ubic: D. Bauxite Deposits in Pakistan:…. 42

 J Pak Mater Soc 2009 3 (1)

byproducts can be used for other purposes chemical, environmental protection,

[4]
. The characterization of bauxite ore, in nuclear technology and war industry [15].
particular, the iron mineralogy, is critical Red mud and barium compounds have
when determining its processability [5]. Iron been utilized for making X-ray radiation-
oxides and hydro oxides are common shielding material through ceramic
constituents of bauxite, in which they are processing route using phosphate
undesirable because their presence bounding [16]. In brief, bauxite is a mineral
increases the cost of aluminum production with diverse applications and is abundant
[6]
. The iron oxides are unchanged by the in Pakistan; therefore, its detailed phase,
processing of bauxite with in a low chemical and microstructural analysis is
temperature (<150C) Bayer plant and required.
hence make up the major phase of the Secondary electron scanning electron
bauxite residue material that needs to be microscope images of AJK bauxite samples
separated from the process liquor [5]. are shown in Figure 7. In Figure 5a, energy
Globally, manganiferous karst bauxite is dispersive X-ray electron spectroscopy
rare which in general, contains 0.2% of (EDS) revealed that the grains with bright
MnO2 [7]. contrast (labelled as A), dark grey contrast
(labelled as S) and light grey contrast
3. Other Applications (labelled as I) comprised Al, Si only and Fe
Red mud is the residue of bauxite respectively. Similarly in Figure 5b, the
processing for alumina production and its grains or micro-regions labelled as “A”, “M”,
major constituents are Fe2O3, Al2O3, SiO2, “T” and “S” comprised Al, Mg, Ti and Si
Na2O, CaO with trace amounts of Zr, Y, Th respectively.
and U [8-9]. Red mud is used in the
production of glazes in Ceramic industry
e.g. sanitary ware, tiles and electrical
porcelain glazes [9]. Low-cost mullite based
ceramics are also produced from the
mixture of natural bauxite and industrial
waste fly ash[10]. Dense alumina ceramics
are widely used for structural applications
(such as armor, wear resistance
applications and in situations with severe
mechanical stresses coupled with corrosive
and thermal action) [11]. Similarly, ordinary
glass-ceramics and nano-crystalline glass-
ceramics can be prepared from red mud in
the aluminum industries [12-13]. Red mud is
a potential ceramic body initial ingredient
and influences the forming procedure,
sintering and final properties [14]. Ceramic
Microsphere are prepared using Chinese
bauxite through centrifugal spray drying Figure 7. SEI of AJK Bauxite sample,
method, with applications in medicine, showing, a) grains with bright contrast (A),

Muhammad Fahad, Yaseen Iqbal, Rick Ubic: D. Bauxite Deposits in Pakistan:…. 43


dark grey contrast (S) and light grey
contrast (I). EDS detected Al in micro-
region “A”, Si only in region “S” and Fe in
region labelled “I”, and b) grains of different
shapes and compositions where the grains
or micro-regions labelled as “A”, “M”, “T”
and “S” comprised Al, Mg, Ti and Si
respectively.
4. Conclusions
Sufficient reserves of high quality Bauxite
are present in Pakistan which requires
systematic characterization and up-
gradation for economical development of
the region and country. SEM of as-mined
Bauxite samples revealed the presence of
grains and micro-regions of varying
morphology and contrast. EDS analysis
revealed the presence of iron in micro-
regions with grey contrast, silica in dark
grey micro-regions and alumina in micro-
regions with bright contrast.
References
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2. www.Geology.com visited on 25/03/2009.
3. U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral
Commodity Summary January 2008.
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5. Kirwan L. J., Deeney F. A., Croke J. M.,
Hodnett K. “Characterization of Various
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Muhammad Fahad, Yaseen Iqbal, Rick Ubic: D. Bauxite Deposits in Pakistan:….
J Pak Mater Soc 2009 3 (1)
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