Bauxite
Mobile handling for bauxite ore across mines, beneficiation and alumina refinery feed.
SANTO supplies mobile conveying, stacking and loading equipment engineered for bauxite — from receiving and stockpiling to reclaim and load-out. The notes below cover the properties that matter, the problems that typically appear on site and the machines we recommend.
Why Mobile Conveying Suits Bauxite
Bauxite is a moist, abrasive aluminum ore of bulk density 1.2–2.0 t/m³ that sticks when wet and dusts when dry. The tracked stockpiler builds ore stockpiles at the mine while feeder stackers meter a steady refinery feed.
- Tracked mobility follows the advancing bauxite mine
- Feeder stackers buffer blast and meter refinery feed
- Abrasion-resistant belts resist silica wear
- Belt scrapers clear wet, sticky ore buildup
- Enclosed transfer controls dry bauxite dust
Physical Properties and Handling Behaviour
The table below summarises the properties that decide belt specification, chute geometry and stacking method for this material. Values are typical ranges — actual figures vary with source and moisture content, so we test your sample before finalising a design.
| Property | Typical Value / Handling Impact |
|---|---|
| Bulk density | 1.2–2.0 t/m³ (moisture-dependent) |
| Particle size | Lump to fine, often sticky when wet |
| Abrasiveness | High — silica content wears belts |
| Angle of repose | 35–45°; sticks when moist |
| Handling note | Manage wet stickiness and dry dust together |
Handling Challenges with Bauxite — and How SANTO Solves Them
Bauxite is a study in opposites: wet ore sticks and smears belts while dry ore dusts and its silica content abrades aggressively. Blast surges also stall the refinery front-end if feed is uneven.
SANTO feeder and tracked stackers use abrasion-resistant belts, belt scrapers and sealed bearings to handle both wet stickiness and dry dust, with feeder buffering smoothing the refinery feed as the mine advances.
- Specify abrasion-resistant belt for silica wear
- Fit belt scrapers for wet, sticky ore
- Use feeder buffering to steady refinery feed
Recommended SANTO Equipment
For bauxite we most often supply the machines listed below. Each can be configured with the belt width, boom length and drive power your tonnage requires, and each is available on wheeled, tracked or crawler chassis.
- Tracked Stockpiler — configured for bauxite duty
- Feeder Track Stacker — configured for bauxite duty
- Grasshopper Conveyor — configured for bauxite duty
- Tracked Radial Stacker — configured for bauxite duty
Typical Stockpiling and Loading Setups
A well-planned bauxite yard keeps receiving, stacking and reclaiming on separate paths so trucks never queue behind a loader. In the most common layout, a mobile conveyor receives from the tipper or hopper and feeds a radial telescopic stacker that builds a layered stockpile, while a second conveyor reclaims to the loading point.
- Receiving: hopper or direct truck discharge into a mobile conveyor
- Stacking: radial or telescopic stacking to build layered, drainable stockpiles
- Reclaim: front-end loader feeding a mobile conveyor, or direct reclaim conveyor
- Load-out: conveyor to truck, wagon, barge or vessel hold
Frequently Asked Questions
How is sticky wet bauxite handled?
Belt scrapers and sealed bearings clear the smearing buildup that moist ore leaves, keeping the conveyor running.
What about abrasion from bauxite?
The silica in bauxite wears belts fast; abrasion-resistant covers and heavy-duty idlers are specified for the duty.
Can the equipment follow the mine?
Yes. Tracked stackers and grasshopper conveyors relocate with the advancing face, keeping haul distances short.
Need the right machine for your site?
Send us your material, required capacity and site layout. SANTO engineers will size the equipment and return a configuration proposal within 12 hours — no obligation.