sedimentary
Bauxite
Bauxite (Al(OH)3, AlO(OH))
Hardness: 1-3 Mohs scale; Color: Reddish-brown, tan, or grayish; Luster: Dull or earthy; Crystal Structure: Amorphous (mixture); Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 2.0-2.5
- Hardness
- 1-3 Mohs scale
- Color
- Reddish-brown, tan, or grayish
- Luster
- Dull or earthy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 1-3 Mohs scale; Color: Reddish-brown, tan, or grayish; Luster: Dull or earthy; Crystal Structure: Amorphous (mixture); Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 2.0-2.5
Formation & geological history
Formed as a residual mineral through the intense chemical weathering (laterization) of aluminum-rich rocks in tropical or subtropical climates over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Primary ore of aluminum used in beverage cans, aerospace components, construction, and electronics; also used as an abrasive and in the production of refractory materials.
Geological facts
Bauxite is not a single mineral but a rock composed of various aluminum hydroxides like gibbsite, boehmite, and diaspore; it was named after the village Les Baux in southern France.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its distinctive pea-like (pisolitic) rounded structures and lack of weight relative to its size; common in Australia, Guinea, and Brazil.
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