In order to make aluminum foil, first obtain aluminum-containingore. The most important aluminum-bearing ore is bauxite, whichcontains a mixture of aluminum oxides with iron oxides and clayminerals. Australia is currently the greatest producer of bauxite,although it is also mined in great quantities in China and Brazil.Bauxite is most commonly mined by a process known as strip mining,as it is often found close to the surface of the ground, not buriedunder large quantities of rock, soil, or other elements.Next, refine the aluminum-bearing ore to produce the rawelement. The first step of this refining extracts the aluminumoxides from the other minerals and elements in the ore. Theseminerals and elements include iron oxides, clay minerals, andcommon impurities such as silica and water. The se