How do We Get Aluminum?

NGSS Phenomena: A grey rock with round deposits of reddish bauxite minerals.
A picture of Bauxite is shown below, (the penny is there to show you the size of the rock.). Most Bauxite was formed between 2 and 145 million years ago, and it’s estimated that current reserves will last for 100-250 years if we continue to use them at the same rate.
Almost all of the world’s aluminum comes from a rock called Bauxite. Most of this was formed between 2-145 million years ago and it’s estimated that current reserves will last for 100-250 years. Use the information in the map below to answer the questions that follow.
NGSS Phenomena: Circles show the areas where the most Bauxite is mined. Australia has mined 50 million tons. China, India, Brazil, and Jamaica have mined 25 million tons. 2 other countries in South America, Kazakhstan, and Russia have mined between 5 and 15 million tons.

USGS
NGSS Phenomena:


References:
HiStrawberryJam, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

1. Bauxite was formed of years ago and we’ll have reserves for of years, which means there for it to replenish itself.

Drag the answers below into the grey placeholders above

hundreds
thousands
is not enough time
millions
tens
is enough time
could be enough time

2. Every year there is bauxite in the world, because .

Drag the answers below into the grey placeholders above

less
the same amount
it’s made faster than we use it
more
it’s made at the same rate as we use it
we use it faster than it’s made

3. The distribution of Bauxite is and most of it comes from .

Drag the answers below into the grey placeholders above

uneven
China
South America
Brazil
Australia
even

4. This resource is an example of a resource.

Drag the answers below into the grey placeholders above

Mineral
Groundwater
Energy

5. Which statement best describes the pattern of where this rock is found?

6. Is Bauxite a renewable or nonrenewable resource? Why?

7. Write a claim to explain what geological processes might have created Bauxite in the places where it’s found.

8. List 2 pieces of evidence that support your claim explaining how geological processes might have created Bauxite in the places where it’s found.

9. Explain your reasoning to show how your evidence supports your claim that geological processes might have created Bauxite in the places where it’s found.

10. Based on the rate of Bauxite mining in Australia, write a CER statement to predict what will happen to the amount of Bauxite in Australia in the future.

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