An economic evaluation of a water leaching process to extract alumina from retorted oil shale was made to determine the potential of the process. Using the conditions tested in the laboratory, an estimated operating cost of $145 per ton of alumina was obtained. This compares with an estimate of $49 per ton for alumina produced commercially from bauxite by the Bayer process. The conditions tested and evaluated included leaching at a 10 to 1 liquid to solid ratio which resulted in extraction of only 50% of the dawsonite-contained alumina. If an 80% yield is assumed the operating cost is reduced to $95 per ton of alumina.