The Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory of Australia have opened a bauxite mine.  This will be the first mine owned by Aboriginals.  Bauxite is a rock that formed from a laterite soil which has been drained of silica and other soluble materials from wet tropical environments. It is the main ore that aluminum is extracted from.  Bauxite is the main source through which aluminum materials are made.  The main international sources of bauxite are Australia, China, Brazil, India, and Guinea.  It is mainly used for aluminum production, but it could also be used as an abrasive (calcined alumina) or a proppant (hydraulic fracturing).

The opening of the mine was an important occasion because it is a demonstration of Aboriginals gaining power by owning an indigenous mine.  It is expected to provide over 100 jobs by 2018.  The leader of the Gumatj Aboriginal clan, Dr. Galarrwuy Yunupingu, has voiced his pride in his people and the fact that they can make their own decisions about the land.

References:

King, H. (n.d.). Bauxite. Retrieved December 11, 2017, from http://geology.com/minerals/bauxite.shtml

Topf, A. (2017, December 10). First Aboriginal mine opens in Northern Territory. Retrieved December 11, 2017, from http://www.mining.com/first-aboriginal-mine-opens-northern-territory/