how to conserve the mineral aluminum?
We can conserve minerals in a number of ways. Industries can reduce waste by using more efficient mining and processing methods. In some cases, industries can substitute plentiful materials for scarce ones. Some mineral products can be recycled. Aluminum cans are commonly recycled. Although bauxite is plentiful, it can be expensive to refine. Recycling aluminum products does not require the large amounts of electric power needed to refine bauxite. Products made from many other minerals, such as nickel, chromium, lead, copper, and zinc, can also be recycled.
As a natural mineral aluminium exists as bauxite. It looks after itself without any help in this form. It is the most common ore on Earth, so there is no shortage (may want to consider what damage is done in extracting it if in sensitive areas though) When we convert it into aluminium as we use everyday, then it can corrode to a certain extent. However, Aluminium only corrodes a little bit if left alone - unless in a particularly corrosive environment. Normally aluminium starts to corrode and the resulting corrossion forms a protective layer that prevents further corrossion. In terms of what to do with aluminium when we don't want it any more - e.g. soft drink cans etc., the simple answer is to drop them at a recycling centre. They will be melted down reused. Aluminium can be recycled a virtually limitless number of times and uses only a fraction of the energy and resources that making new aluminium from ore takes. So the most practical answer is simply to say: Recycle it.
