MathApp1_IAfinaledit

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Applied Mathematics IA |2011 JaikeshanTakchandra

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Introduction

Bauxite is the main geological ore ofaluminum3. It is the most abundant element on the earths crust.

Its most common state consists of minerals in the impure hydrated form of aluminum oxide (Al2O3-

3H2O); other states of bauxite also include gibbsite, (Al(OH)3)b. Bauxite is not a crystal, but a claylike and

earthy brick, that ranges from colour white to deep brown or red, according to the nature and quantity

of it constituents. Bauxite was first discovered in Les Baux, France b, and is widely distributed across the

world occurring in Africa, South America, Russia, the West Indies, Australia and The United States. The

ore may contain impurities (iron oxide, silicon dioxide, titanium and gallium) as much as 50 percent by

mass. The reddish colour3 indicates the presence of much iron in the ore.

The mining of bauxite for its ore is vital for the economic importance in some Caribbean countries,

namely, Jamaica and Guyana. Bauxite production in the Caribbean constitutes over forty percent of the

worlds output, most originating from Jamaica. Bauxite mining in Guyana started in 19171. There,

bauxite is only extracted from its ore. It is exported in its raw form specifically for the manufacture of

aluminum. Other uses of the extracted mineral include production of cement, abrasives and refractory

bricks. Bauxite in Guyana is found where there is white sand. The diagram below shows the mainbauxite locations in Guyana.

1.

Figure 1.

1,3,b.see reference


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The bauxite industry in Guyana has expanded considerably, estimating 17 percent c of the national GDP y

(gross domestic product- 1980) and 12 percent 1 (2010). The economic activity has become a highly

mechanised task, although the stratum of bauxite mining in Guyana is only confined to bauxite

production. Factors that influence the location and production of the industries include availability of

transport medium, water supply and fuel.

In Guyana there are four main types of bauxiteb

:

calcined bauxite (RASC) metal grade bauxite (MAZ) chemical grade bauxite (CGB) aluminum ores cement grade bauxite (ACGB)

Over the years, the drilling and clearing of land, removal of sand and clay and cleaning of the ore has

shown variations in the quantities of bauxite produced, as well as the types of bauxite produced. With

approximately 1500 b millions tonnes of bauxite reserves in Guyana, it is obvious that the industry will

make a significant contribution to the Gross Domestic Product.

This project seeks to analyze the trend in bauxite production for the period ending 2000 to 2009.

1,b,csee reference ;

ysee bibliography


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Data Collection

Data was collected from secondary sources. Annual statistics on national data are published by The

Bureau of Statistics. It is opportune to download the required information, since the presentation is

conveniently categorized, making it readily available for analyses.

Other necessary information (GDP statistics, exports and import stock charts, and rainfall statistics) werealso obtained from the Bureau of Statistics and the Hydro-meteorological Office.

Supplementary data were also obtained from a number of books and internet sources.


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Presentationof Data

Table 1

Year Total

Production

Dried Calcined Chemical

2000 2651 2443 106 1022001 1987 1709 91 187

2002 1639 1449 62 128

2003 1712 1460 87 165

2004 1504 1261 132 111

2005 1676 1287 213 176

2006 1374 1055 150 169

2007 2198 1776 196 226

2008 1995 1454 232 309

2009 1463 1114 129 220

Totals 18199 15008 1398 1793

Table 1 shows the totals and types of bauxite production figures in metric tonnes for the period of 2000-

2009 in Guyana

Figure 2

Figure 1 is a comparative bar chart comparing each years bauxite production for the period under

review with the previous years production.

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Bauxite/tonnes

Year

Total Production Previous Year's Production


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Figure 3

Figure 2 is a pie chart showing the proportion of dried, calcined and chemical bauxite produced over the

ten year period.

82%

8%

10%

Dried

Calcined

Chemical


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Figure 4

Figure 4 is a scatter diagram with the least squares regression line that illustrates the regression of

bauxite production over the ten year period. Year one, is taken to be 2000.

-

[ ][

]

r = -0.4064

2651

1987

16391712

1504

1676

1374

2198

1995

1463

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Bauxitep

roduciton/tonnes

Time/years


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Data Analysis

The data table summarises the total production of bauxite as per type over the ten-year period, 2000 -

2009.

Dried bauxite (chemical grade bauxite) recorded the highest of total production (2000-2009). Both

calcined and chemical bauxite are seen to be expansive in production, specifically noticeable in thelatter five years. This increase in chemical grade bauxite can take the form of local usage in manufacture

of chemicals and fertilisers such as aluminum sulphates. The increase in calcined bauxite which is

particularly used for the manufacture of abrasives may have local use related to the intensification of

paved roads in and around many sub-urbanised places in Guyana. RASC yand CBG ybauxite would not be

exported in such small quantities produced.

Together, the dried, calcined and chemical bauxite comprise the total bauxite that Guyana had

produced for the indicated time period. The fact, obtained from the Bureau of Statistics of Guyana, that

previously, the bauxite industry produced AAC yand ACBG ybauxite, concludes a reduction in

diversification of the economic activity in the country. Assessing the time period 2000-2009 makes avery useful study when this comparison is made. Further, upon analysing the comparative bar graph,

one would notice a general decrease in bauxite production over the years. This can be supplemented by

the scatter graph, in Figure 4, which shows a negatively sloping trend line with a correlation coefficient

of -0.4064 (see above), indicating a slow decrease in bauxite production as the years progressed. The

bar graph reveals that a majority of the bauxite production does not surpass the previous years

production. This is explicitly noted in 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2009. Year 2000 showed the

largest amount of bauxite produced for the period under review. In fact, this is the largest production

achieved in the last 20 years 1.

In that year, aluminum prices were the lowest recorded, $US 1500 3 per metric tonne, indicating that the

supply would have been relatively high world-wide, causing a decline in bauxite prices. This meant that

the industry had to produce enough bauxite to compensate for the reduced prices. While bauxite

production was high that year, rice, sugar and diamond and gold production in Guyana were normal

relative to marginal years production. This concludes that Guyanas bauxite production for 2000 was

independent of the nations economic activity. Following this, the next year, 2001, showed a very

significant decline in total bauxite production, as much as 500 metric tonnes (25 percent) less than

2000(table 1). However, the amount of calcined and chemical bauxite produced was seemingly

unaffected. To note though, statistics gathered from the Georgetown hydro-meteorological office

indicates that in 2001, rainfall totals were very low; lowest for the period 1993-2004. This shortage of

water, especially in the drought prone region of the bauxite belt(figure 1), could have been a big set-

back, as most of the bauxite ore is obtained via water blasting.

The following years, 2002-2006, illustrates a steady decline in bauxite production, which is not very

significant. The production can be considered to be linear as it fluctuated between 1750-1350 metric

tonnes, and seen in Figure 4. However, production was still decreasing as indicated by Figure 2.

1,3see reference

ysee introduction


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This trend is consistent with rising world aluminum prices 3 at that time, which indicates that the world

demand for bauxite had decreased. This was perhaps partly due to the economic recession of 2004,

where Australia, Russia and the United States were significantly affected.

Production dropped as much as 38 percent relative to 2000 in 2002 and continued to fall with the

smallest production for the entire period under review being in 2006, just over half of that produced in

2000. The years 2002 and 2005 showed similar production quantities with 2002 having a marginal 37tonnes more than in 2005. On the other hand, as total production lessened, specifically dried bauxite,

the amounts of calcined bauxite and chemical bauxite increased consistently from 2002-2005, only until

the bad year of 2006.

In 2007, bauxite production recorded another large increase in production, incongruent with the 2002-

2006 decrease, which faintly prolonged until 2009. This augmentation is seen specifically to be affiliated

with the substantial increase in worldwide aluminum prices, reaching a mere $US 3000 3 per metric

tonne. Such a large increase in aluminum prices cannot be solely related to a drop in demand in

aluminum but rather an increase in demand, perhaps after the economic recession when automobile

and transport manufacturing systems would have been recovering from their slump. In 2007, the

increase in total bauxite production was the highest recorded consecutive increase for the period. This

was noted by a remarkable 60 percent increase relative to 2006, the previous year, but still almost one

fifth (453 tonnes) deficit (17 percent) of the total bauxite produced in 2000. The year also showed an

increase in dried, calcined and chemical bauxite. The year 2008 indicates drop in total production, one

tenth of that in 2007, and similar to that produced in 2001. However, while the amount of dried bauxite

decreased (18 percent), calcined and chemical bauxite produced increased, as much as an 18 percent

increase in calcined bauxite and 36 percent for chemical bauxite. The decrease in total production

intensified in 2009, with the reduction being only one third that of 2007.

3,bsee reference


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ConclusionThis research provided evidence to make appropriate deductions from the intended purpose of study.

The bauxite industry in Guyana is made functional by the bauxite reserves in Guyana. Therefore, one

would expect the reserves to be finite. Sustainable management of the industry will ensure no mis-use

of the natural resource as well as any negative effects on the environment in close proximity to theindustry. Hence, a controllable and reasonable output is produced from the bauxite industry in Guyana,

in sufficient quantities to meet export demands. No local facilities exist for processing raw bauxite into

value-added products.

Economically, since the industry is dependent on export demands, pricing is not controlled by Guyana.

In this regard the country must subject itself to the vagaries of the fragile international economic crisis

and subsequently feel the shocks of the market.

Nevertheless, the industry provides employment for a significant percentage of the workforce. The

bauxite industry contributes, albeit in a small way, to the Gross Domestic Product.

Efficiencies of scale are important for the maximum possible performance of this industry.


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Reference

Web links1. http://www.guyanaguide.com/bauxite.html2. http://www.statisticsguyana.gov.gy/pubs/stats_bulletin_(thematic_area).zip[for all data

included in research]

3. http://www.infomine.com/chartsanddata/chartbuilder.aspx?z=f&g=127675&dr=15y4. http://www.reference.com/browse/bauxite

Booksa. Caribbean Education Publishers Ltd,

Mahadeo D. Rudolph,

Statistical Analysis for CAPE, First Edition 2007

b. Myrana Bernard (et al),Science In Daily Life Book 3

c. Malcolm Cross,Urbanization and Urban Growth in the Caribbean, 1979

d. Nelson Publishers, David Waugh,Geography An Integrated Approach,
http://www.guyanaguide.com/bauxite.htmlhttp://www.guyanaguide.com/bauxite.htmlhttp://www.statisticsguyana.gov.gy/pubs/stats_bulletin_(thematic_area).ziphttp://www.statisticsguyana.gov.gy/pubs/stats_bulletin_(thematic_area).ziphttp://www.infomine.com/chartsanddata/chartbuilder.aspx?z=f&g=127675&dr=15yhttp://www.infomine.com/chartsanddata/chartbuilder.aspx?z=f&g=127675&dr=15yhttp://www.reference.com/browse/bauxitehttp://www.reference.com/browse/bauxitehttp://www.reference.com/browse/bauxitehttp://www.infomine.com/chartsanddata/chartbuilder.aspx?z=f&g=127675&dr=15yhttp://www.statisticsguyana.gov.gy/pubs/stats_bulletin_(thematic_area).ziphttp://www.guyanaguide.com/bauxite.html


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Glossary

Catalogued from Microsoft Encarta 2009

Aluminium/aluminum - silvery white, light metallic element that is ductile, malleable, and resistant tocorrosion. Source: bauxite. Use: lightweight construction, corrosion-resistant materials

Gross Domestic Product- an index of the prices of goods and services in which each is weighted to representits importance in the gross domestic product. It allows changes in money value and real output in GDP to be

distinguished.

Gallium- a rare metallic element, blue-gray when solid and silver when liquid. Source: coal, bauxite. Use: high-temperature thermometers, semiconductors, alloys

Incongruent - not corresponding in structure or content

Silicon dioxide - a colorless transparent solid that melts at a very high temperature. Use: manufacture ofmicrochips

Titanium- strong, lightweight, corrosion-resistant silvery metallic element. Source: rutile, ilmenite. Use:manufacture of alloys for aerospace industry

Water blast/blastingremoving via water blast, especially using high pressures

24th April 2011

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