The Ballad of Big ¹³Al - The True Story
by Dr Greg Power
(Sustainable Technology Manager, Alcoa World Alumina)

"The Ballad of Big 13Al - The True Story" was a fascinating talk on alumina and aluminium extraction. It was presented at both Murdoch University and Curtin University. Over 400 students and teachers from Perth metropolitan state and private high schools and some invited guests attended the lecture.

Aluminium may be the third most common element in the earth's crust but it is far from ordinary. Dr Power showed how its properties make it extraordinary and why you aren't allowed to take mercury on an aircraft. The students heard the story of the "metal of clay" and discovered its French connection.

The lecture also revealed why gibbsite (alumina hydrate) is like Eric the Eel from Equatorial Guinea who became famous swimming at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

A series of simple, clear demonstrations illustrated the chemistry behind bauxite and alumina processing. And the students found out how aluminium extraction today compares with that imagined by HG Wells in his novel War of the Worlds.

This was the science behind a $6 billion export earner for Australia, made interesting and simple by Dr Power who has worked in the alumina industry since 1980.