Bauxite is the main source of aluminum. It is a sedimentary rock (mixture of metal oxides) named after the French city of Baux, where bauxite deposits were first discovered in 1821. Bauxite constitutes the raw material for the production of alumina (aluminum oxide), which in turn is the raw material for the production of aluminum. Depending on its origin, bauxite ores have different physicochemical characteristics and undergo different processing.
In Metlen alumina refinery unit, Aluminium of Greece, the main source for alumina production is Greek karstic bauxite coming from the Mt Parnassus – Mt Giona zone. Greek bauxite ore deposits are of diaspore type, rich in aluminium oxide. The rest of the bauxite input consists of various tropical bauxites, originating from Ghana or Brazil. Tropical bauxite ore deposits are of gibbsite type.
Metlen owns mines in the Mt Parnassus – Mt Giona zone through Delphi-Distomon. Delphi-Distomon constitutes the second larger producer of diasporic bauxite is Greece with an annual production that exceeds 570,000 tons, only from underground facilities.
