The Long, Arduous Process of Getting Aluminum Out of Dirt

But it is possible, even in your own backyard.

Cody's LabYouTube

You might not realize it, but there's all kinds of metal—precious and otherwise—hiding in plain site in the world around you. There's platinum in roadside dust, and gold inside your computer. If you know the right chemistry, you can get it out. There's also aluminum hiding out in otherwise ordinary clay, and the long, involved process of getting it out is a thing to behold.

Cody of Cody's Lab is obviously an expert when it comes to mining and refining, and it shows in this fascinating video about aluminum extraction which involves so many dang steps it's hard to keep track of them all. Not only is there slurrying and acid-mixing, and the collecting of precipitates, but the final step involves electrocuting a red-hot metal rod that is submerged in other molten metal.

No, you'll never have to do this, and you probably shouldn't try. But the next time you put an aluminum can to your lips, remember that somebody does, and man is it ever not simple.

Source: Cody's Lab

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