With the discovery in 1955 of the large reserves of bauxite at Weipa, world attention became focused on Australia as a potential source of raw material for the aluminum industry, and several aluminum companies commenced exploration activities. Australia has joined the Caribbean area and West Africa as a major world source of bauxite; total reserves are in the order of 5,800 million MT. Of this total, 3,250 million MT is contained in the three main deposits--Weipa, Darling Range, and Gove--in which mining operations are presently being carried out. The bauxite deposits occur as residuals of Tertiary laterite and are predominantly pisolitic in texture. The bauxites are developed on several rock types including sedimentary rocks, basalt, and schist. Since 1955 the growth rat of the bauxite mining industry has been rapid--from less than 1 million MT in 1966 to over 19 million MT in 1973. The integrated aluminum-industry growth has been no less spectacular. Alumina production has risen from 30,279 MT in 1960 to 4 million MT in 1973 and, in the same period, aluminum metal production has grown from 11,842 MT to 203,210 MT. The Australian reserves are strategically located to serve the long-term needs of the Pacific area, particularly the developing countries of Southeast Asia.