Aluminum is found around all of us, in almost every rock, plant, and animal on the planet.
It is the third most abundant element on the earth's surface, after oxygen and silicon, and the compounds in which it is found form about 15 percent of the weight of the Earth's crust. But nowhere in nature is this metal found in a pure form - as it is always linked to other elements.
Some parts of the earth's crust contain large quantities of aluminium compounds, it is in these regions that the aluminium ore is mined.
The most common aluminum ore is called bauxite. Electric currents (electrolysis) are used to separate aluminum from bauxite. It is this purified aluminum that is used in the manufacture of aluminum foil and other diverse materials.
Aluminum is used as a wrapping foil because it is light, weighing less than half the weight of iron or copper, and can be pressed into very thin sheets. Aluminum is a good conductor of electricity and a good insulator against heat and light, making it perfect for wrapping and protecting food.
Australia is the world's largest bauxite producer, producing twice as much bauxite as any other nation.
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