Aluminum ore primarily refers to a mineral called bauxite, which is the main source of aluminum. Bauxite is composed mainly of aluminum oxide minerals, along with other elements like iron and silica. It is typically found in tropical and subtropical regions, where weathering processes have concentrated the aluminum content. To extract aluminum from bauxite, a process called the Bayer process is used. This involves crushing the bauxite and treating it with a hot solution of sodium hydroxide, which separates the aluminum oxide from impurities. The resulting aluminum oxide is then reduced to aluminum metal through the Hall-Héroult process, which involves electrolysis.