Aluminum production begins with the extraction of bauxite ore, which contains aluminum oxide. This ore is refined through the Bayer process, where it is crushed and mixed with a hot, caustic soda solution to separate the aluminum oxide from impurities. The resulting aluminum oxide is then heated in a furnace to produce molten aluminum. Next, the molten aluminum undergoes the Hall-Héroult process, where it is electrolyzed in a solution of molten cryolite. This process separates aluminum from oxygen, allowing pure aluminum to be collected. The final product is then cast into various shapes for use in industries like construction, transportation, and packaging.