How Aluminum is produced

                 Aluminum does not exist naturally in its metallic form. It is found only in combination with other minerals. It forms silicate and oxide compounds making up approximately 8% of the earth's crust. Mining companies excavate bauxite, a clay soil more common near the equator. The bauxite is moved to refinement facilities where it is crushed and mixed with a corrosive soda and lime solution. The mixture is heated and filtered, leaving a white powder known as alumina. The alumina is transported to a metal plant where it is turned into aluminum. The process to create aluminum requires alumina, electricity and carbon. Electricity is run between a negative carbon cathode and a positive carbon anode. The Alumina is passed between them where a reaction takes place producing CO2 and aluminum. The liquid metals is cast into extrusion ingots, sheet ingots or foundry alloys depending on the intended use. Below is a video that continues the process, explaining the creation of aluminum cans.