These crystals are baked in a rotary kiln at over 1,000°C [1, 6].

This is a story of transformation—how a crumbly red rock from the earth becomes the sleek, silver metal in your soda can or smartphone. Act I: The Earth’s Rusty Treasure

The crushed bauxite enters a high-pressure "pressure cooker" filled with hot caustic soda [1, 6].