What is raw aluminum?

Raw aluminum is the pure, unprocessed form of aluminum metal, typically extracted from its natural ore, bauxite. Bauxite is refined to produce alumina (aluminum oxide), which is then smelted to extract aluminum using a process called electrolytic reduction.

To put it simply, raw aluminum is like the "fresh-out-of-the-ground" version of this versatile metal. At this stage, it’s not yet alloyed with other materials, shaped into sheets, or turned into products like cans or foil. It’s just the base material—lightweight, silvery, and ready to be refined further for specific uses.

I think it’s fascinating how such a common metal starts off in a rock and ends up in everything from airplanes to soda cans.