FIELD: aluminum production. SUBSTANCE: piercing cryolite-silica crust after preliminary loading silica portion onto it is performed to the depth constituting 0.25-0.75 electrolyte layer height. Period between silica portion loading onto the crust and beginning of following piercing is not longer than 60 s and does not depend on duration of the full cycle of electrolyzer treatment. Full cycles of treating one and the other longitudinal sides of electrolyzer are performed with equal spaces between them. Silica portions are loaded onto electrolyte crust with periodicity 30-110 s and their weight varies from 0.2 to 0.8 kg. EFFECT: increased productivity, reduced consumption of power, anode mass, effort, and release of noxious substances. 4 cl, 1 dwg, 1 tbl
