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Difficulty: MediumMineral Resources and Mining in Africa

Which of the following West African countries is the leading producer of bauxite, containing the largest known reserves of this aluminum ore on the African continent?

  1. GuineaAnswer
  2. B
    South Africa
  3. C
    Zambia
  4. D
    Nigeria

Answer

Guinea is the leading African country in bauxite reserves and production.
Guinea ranks as Africa's largest producer of bauxite and holds the largest known reserves globally, centered largely in regions like Boké, Kindia, and Fria.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the primary ore of aluminum.
The main ore used worldwide to produce aluminum is bauxite.
Bauxite is weathered aluminum-rich rock formed primarily in tropical regions.
2
Locate the major African bauxite extraction centers.
Guinea, located in West Africa, possesses over a quarter of global bauxite reserves with major extraction centers around the Boké and Fria regions.
Geological conditions in West Africa favored intense tropical weathering of aluminous rocks.

Key Concept

Spatial distribution of major mineral resources in Africa
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Mineral Resources and Mining in Africa

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