#HTE

Aluminum is the third most abundant element in the earth’s crust, but it does not naturally occur as a metal. The first step in producing aluminum is mining its ore—bauxite. The Paragominas Bauxite Mine in Brazil, seen here, produces more than 5 million tons (4.5 million metric tons) of bauxite every year, and represents one of the largest reserves of the material in the country.

This image is featured in the Materials chapter of our new book “Overview Timelapse” where we show the processes in place to utilize Earth’s natural resources. Click here today for a 30% discount on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Overview-Timelapse…/dp/1984858653

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Source imagery: Maxar